USA: Trump administration asks U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate Affordable Care Act

President Donald Trump's administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate the Obamacare law introduced by his predecessor that added millions to the healthcare safety net but has been a major political controversy.

Government advocate Noel Francisco argued in a filing late on Thursday that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - one of former President Barack Obama's signature achievements – became invalid after the previous, Republican-led Congress axed parts of it.

Read more at:
Trump administration asks U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate Affordable Care Act | CBC News

USA - Obama Care: Senate GOP fail again and abandon latest effort to kill Obama Care - by J. Eilperin and S.Sullivan

Senate Republicans decided Tuesday not to hold a vote on unwinding the Affordable Care Act, preserving the landmark 2010 law for the foreseeable future even as they suggested they may withhold crucial funding for it

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The move leaves the GOP — once again — short of fulfilling a signature promise, which some Republicans worried could inspire a backlash among their base heading into the 2018 midterm elections.

Several senators said they instead plan to move onto other issues now that the party’s latest proposal, authored by Republican Sens. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (La.), had failed to garner sufficient support 

“Where we go from here is tax reform,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters after holding a closed-door policy lunch with members of his caucus.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers voiced little interest in shoring up the existing ACA insurance market, sowing apprehension among insurers and state officials just weeks before consumers must start enrolling in plans for next year. 

Note EU-Digest: The US Republican Party is in deep trouble: division among party members, poor Congressional leadership, and the fact that their "Principal Leader", the President of the USA, is a "loose Canon", also is not helpful for their reputation and morale within the party.

 
Read more: Senate GOP abandons latest effort to unwind the Affordable Care Act - The Washington Post

US healthcare insurance companies want to raise rates up to 50% or more

A growing number of major healthcare insurance carriers have started filing requests for 2016 rate hikes with their state insurance departments. 

A number of those rate hike requests will not only silence

many Obamacare defenders, they will indicate just how unaffordable the Affordable Care Act has become.

 

One report stated: “BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee . . . said it lost $141 million from exchange-sold plans, stemming largely from a small number of sick enrollees. ‘Our filing is planned to allow us to operate on at least a break-even basis for these plans, meaning that the rate would cover only medical services and expenses—with no profit margin for 2016,’ said spokeswoman Mary Danielson.”

Similar losses have prompted some carriers to request huge increases. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in Maryland has requested increases of 30.4% on average over current premium rates.

Puting these raises into perspective. A family paying € 266.00 a month could see their premiums jump up to € 347.00 a month.

That’s a total annual increase of € 972.00

EU-Digest

US Supreme Court issues historic ruling ensuring millions of Americans will get affordable health care

The Supreme Court issued a historic ruling: They upheld the Affordable Care Act and ensured that millions of American families will have access to health care and protection from the worst abuses of the insurance industry. Lots of people have questions about the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court's decision, and their health care coverage. For additional useful information -- including President Obama's remarks after the announcement click here .

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