President Donald Trump received a big blow when Senate Republicans failed to muster votes to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act passed by his predecessor Barack Obama. But Trump is not one to admit defeat. He has threatened to end government payments to health insurers if Congress does not pass a healthcare bill and to urge it to get on with the campaign to replace ObamaCare. He referred to the $8billion cost-sharing reduction subsidies that the Government pays to insurers to lower the price of health coverage for low income Americans. He has also threatened to end the employer contribution for Congress members and their staff who were shifted from the normal federal employee health-care programmes onto the ObamaCare insurance exchanges as part of the 2010 Healthcare Law. Donald Trump had also previously threatened to suspend payments to insurers. He said in April that such payments will be stopped if Democrats refuse to cut a deal over the Healthcare Bill.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said that if the President carried out his threat, insurance premiums will go up and healthcare will be more expensive. Trump is playing politics with people’s lives and healthcare. Many insurers are waiting for Trump’s decision on whether they will continue to fund the annual subsidies. Many plan to raise rates an additional 20%. A survey of 1,136 people shows that 61% respondents want Medicare in its present form to continue. Trump’s policy is at odds with his compassion for the poor and jobless Americans and is pro-rich and the rich may have to bear a heavier tax burden.
