Seven Democrats have caved, voting with Republicans to end the government shutdown without getting any meaningful concessions from the Republicans on Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) health care subsidies for people in the Obamacare state health insurance exchanges. At the same time, David Nather reports for Axios that President Trump is now pushing for Congress to give people money for their health care rather than help cover the premiums for their ACA coverage. President Trump has a plan to end the ACA; Senate Democratic party leader Chuck Schumer is no match for him.
Senator Chuck Schumer failed to hold his party together, ending the government shutdown without getting help for 24 million Americans needing health insurance. Schumer’s behavior reveals a failure of leadership. Schumer should have been calling for guaranteed health care for all, rather than asking for help paying for ACA subsidies–a small concession–from the Republicans, which Schumer was not even intent on getting.
ACA subsidies are critical for several million Americans, but guaranteed affordable health care for all is what’s needed. Help for the soybean farmers is needed. Affordable housing is needed. And, much more. If he wasn’t going to stand firm and hold his caucus together, Schumer should have spoken for everyone in need rather than a small cohort of the population.
Now, not only did the Democrats not get an extension of the ACA subsidies, they look spineless. And, Republicans in Congress are even less likely to support extending the subsidies than they already were, given President Trump’s call for them not to. They’re hungry to gut the ACA.
I can’t argue with Trump that the ACA subsidies go to “money sucking insurance companies.” The corporate health insurers will always gauge tax-payers and put their profits ahead of people’s health care needs. But, Trump’s proposal to send people the subsidy money directly to use for health care is no substitute for health insurance and protection against enormous financial risk when people develop complex conditions. At best, Trump’s proposal would help people pay for low-cost items for which they don’t need health insurance.
The Democrats’ initial refusal to go along with Republicans and allow the government shutdown might have succeeded at helping Americans understand that President Trump and Republicans are not out there to help them, not even the 42 million Americans who rely on food stamps. But, with ineffectual Democratic leadership and no strategy, it’s easy to see why Democrats are not seeing the public support they want and need to succeed.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Republicans could hurt Medicare, Medicaid and ACA without ACA repeal
- Trump plans to launch TrumpRx web site
- Will TrumpRx simply be a rebranded GoodRx?
- John Oliver explains Medicare and the dangers of Medicare Advantage
- 2026: Big changes in Medicare Advantage
