Has Obamacare become a political issue with endless possibilities for both parties? It sure looks that way.
With election day steaming ever closer, both major parties are looking for ways to turn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to their advantage or the other party's disadvantage — whichever option presents itself.
The latest turn has to do with the loss of insurance by some covered individuals whose nonprofit insurers went out of business.
As reported by The Hill, a measure backed by Republicans is winding through the House that would exempt such individuals from the act's requirement that everyone have insurance or pay a penalty. The GOP argues that such individuals should be given the option of not signing up for new coverage, in part because one's deductibles often have to start from ground zero when that happens.
Democrats are against the measure, "but not with the same passion that they bring to opposing broader efforts to gut Obamacare," The Hill says. That's because it's a principle thing, so the Democrats feel they have to oppose it, but don't really care if it passes.
Anyone who loses coverage in this scenario automatically gets a new enrollment period to find replacement insurance. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services say they've sent multiple missives to the newly uninsured, explaining their options.
Bill 'doesn't hurt' anyone
But, if it's truly a burden — and the Democrats aren't convinced it is — then why not let the bill pass, and give the GOP a little notch in its anti-ACA gun barrel?
"This bill isn't going to hurt anything," said Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.). "We don't know who it's going to help, if it helps anybody. It's a good campaign [issue]. I know this is the election season."
Oddly enough, a Republican supporter of the House bill said just about the same thing.
"What does the bill hurt? It doesn't hurt anybody," said Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Ohio). "It just provides certainty for people who lose their insurance."
So now we're watching our elected officials spend their time on bills that won't hurt anybody, instead of, say, getting busy on a funding bill to fight the spread of Zika, which already has hurt people.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.