A simple way to get rid of Obamacare

By Tom Quiner

How to get rid of Obamacare? Simply let it implode.

In essence, that is what political consultant, Dick Morris, recommends in the video above.

He is concerned, justifiably so, that Republicans could let themselves get boxed into a corner a’la the sequester compromise, and end up with another seriously compromised piece of healthcare legislation.

Obamacare is falling apart at the seams. As the Wall Street Journal editorialized yesterday:

“… about eight million people have paid the tax penalty for violating the individual mandate to buy insurance, and another 12 million have received regulatory exemptions. In other words, more people who were supposed to benefit from ObamaCare have opted out than have enrolled.”

In other words, Obamacare has but 12 million people enrolled in it at the same time some 20 million are avoiding it, despite the tax hit they’re taking.

As Morris points out, people are fleeing a product with rising costs and diminishing value. Simply let the trend continue until Obamacare is nothing but a hollowed out commodity. To that end, he says Republicans merely need to:

  1. Remove the mandate that individuals MUST buy health insurance. Good.
  2. Remove the mandate that employers MUST provide health insurance. Good.
  3. Let people buy any product they like in or out of the Exchanges. Good.
  4. Maintain protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Good.
  5. Keep requirement that plans cover children through age 26. Not so good.
  6. Make policies tax-deductible to individuals, and enhance their tax deductibility to business. [I especially like the first part, but would like to get employers out of the business of providing health insurance to employees.]
  7. Move the very sick into Medicare. Interesting.
  8. Maintain subsidies at current levels, but let them apply to insurance products outside of the Exchanges as well. [If we must have subsidies, and I’m not sure we do, this is a better approach.]

Is Morris’ plan a good one?

Not sure. I’m personally not a fan of #5 and #8. However, the genius of the Morris approach is that it provides a natural transition to a more market-driven, patient-centered system with less political upheaval.

What do you think? Please weigh in.

2 Comments

  1. Anonymous on December 13, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    Mr. Morrison has struck a decent balance between conservativism and crossing the isle to the libs. We need something that huge swaths of the population won’t feel as though they were ignored when it was passed. Where the Dems went wrong was ignoring the right entirely. I think we have learned that just b/c one CAN do something unilaterally, does not mean one SHOULD. When one side is left out, they have NO reason to help it and are free to strike it down w/o any question about loyalties. I suspect many GOP elites LOVE the ACA, but did not have to put their names to the train wreck. They don’t have to look like they flip-flopped when their party took over. Hopefully some Dems will sign on as they are up for reelection in 2 yrs where Trump won handily. Good or bad, a bill needs folks from both parties on it to 1) lend credibility and 2) give longevity. As the swamp dwellers cont. to seek reelection they will defend that which bears their names.



    • quinersdiner on December 13, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      I appreciate what you’re saying. Not sure I agree with you 100%, but close to 90%. Come again. Thanks for writing.