>> BUT FIRST THROUGHOUT HIS
CAMPAIGN PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP
WAS CLEAR IN HIS INTENTION TO
QUOTE REPEAL AND REPLACE
OBAMACARE OFTEN PROMISING TO DO
IT ON DAY ONE.
BUT SINCE THE ELECTION HE AND
MANY REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE
SOUNDING MORE LIKE REVISING
RATHER THAN REPEALING.
ON 60 MINUTES THIS WEEK TRUMP
SAID THAT PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS WOULD
STILL BE COVERED AND YOUNG
PEOPLE UNDERAGE 26 WOULD BE
COVERED BY THEIR PARENTS'
INSURANCE YET DURING THE
PRIMARIES CANDIDATE TRUMP CALLED
FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE ON 60
MINUTES.
>> EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BE
COVERED.
THIS IS AN UNREPUBLICAN THING
FOR ME TO SAY BECAUSE THEY SAY
NO THAT CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE.
>> UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.
>> I WILL TAKE CARE OF
EVERYBODY.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE TAKEN
CARE OF, BETTER THAN THEY ARE
TAKEN CARE OF NOW.
>> WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
AND JOINING US ARE DIANA
RICKERT, SHE IS VICE-PRESIDENT
OF COMMUNICATIONS AT THE
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE.
A FREE MARKET THINK TANK.
AND DANIEL RABBITT PROJECT
MANAGER FOR THE PROGRESSIVE
POLICY AT THE HEARTLAND
ALLIANCE.
BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE HEARD WHAT
DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS
FOR OBAMACARE?
>> WELL, PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP
CAMPAIGNED ON THE PREMISE OF
REPEALING AND REPLACING
OBAMACARE AND HE HAD BETTER
DELIVER BECAUSE IF PEOPLE LOVED
OBAMACARE WE WOULD BE TALKING
ABOUT A PRESIDENT-ELECT CLINTON.
THE ELECTORATE SIGNALED THEY
WANT MAJOR CHANGES AND NOT
MARGINS SHOULD BE ADJUSTED.
THEY WANT IT TOSSED AND REPLACED
WITH A NEW SYSTEM.
>> TOTALLY NEW SYSTEM, DANIEL
RABBITT DO YOU THINK BASED ON
WHAT YOU ARE HEARING THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT SAY WHAT DO YOU
THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO
CREATE A BRAND NEW SYSTEM.
WHILE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
HAS NOT BEEN THE MOST POPULAR
PROGRAM IN AMERICAN HISTORY MOST
PEOPLE LIKE MOST OF THE
COMPONENTS OF THE BILL.
OF THE LAW.
SO WHEN YOU GET DOWN TO THE
DETAILS IT WILL BE MUCH MORE
DIFFICULT.
BUT REGARDLESS OF SPECULATING, I
THINK THAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT HAS TAKEN US A STEP FORWARD
TOWARDS ENSURING HEALTHCARE
COVERAGE FOR ALL AMERICANS.
AND AT LEAST AT HEARTLAND WE ARE
GOING TO MAKE SURE THE GAINS ARE
NOT LOST.
>> DIANA RICKERT IF THE
PRESIDENT-ELECT COMES UP WITH A
PLAN THAT INCLUDES COVERAGE
FOREPEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS AND 26 YEARS OR
YOUNGER BEING CONTINUED COVERAGE
ENTER THEIR PARENTS I'M PROGRAM,
PARENTS' INSURANCE, WOULD THAT
BE SATISFACTORY TO YOU?
I MEAN TO THE POSITION YOU
REPRESENT?
>> SURE.
WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION
REALLY IS: WHY WOULD THERE BE
COVERAGE FOR THE PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS UP UNTIL AGE 26
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT
INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE TO
PROVIDE THIS?
OR BECAUSE THE MARKET DECIDED
THERE IS AN APPETITE AMONG THE
PUBLIC FOR THIS.
WHAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS
ACTUALLY BEFORE OBAMACARE WAS
IMPLEMENTED UNITED HEALTHCARE
WAS OFFERING COVERAGE IN 25
STATES TO PEOPLE WHO HAD
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
EVEN THOUGH THE MARKET AND THE
HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY WAS
NOT PERFECT IT WAS TRYING TO
MOVE TO SOLVE IT.
SO SHOULD PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS BE ABLE
TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE?
YES THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO IN
MANY CASES BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE
THE GOVERNMENT MANDATING THAT
THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT AND THE
PRIVATE COMPANIES NEED TO SUPPLY
IT AND THE SAME RISK UP TO 26 IF
HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES OR
EMPLOYERS DECIDE THEY WANT TO
COVER YOUR KID UNTIL THEY ARE 26
OR 56, IT SHOULD BE THE
MARKETPLACE NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
>> IF THE NEW PLAN WERE TO
INCLUDE THOSE PROVISIONS WOULD
YOU CONSIDER THAT A BETRAYAL?
>> IT WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING
BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE LAW
IS THE GOVERNMENT IS TOO
INVOLVED.
THE PROBLEMS WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE WERE CAUSED BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
ADDING THE GOVERNMENT IN MORE
AND MORE LAYERS IS NOT THE
PROBLEM IT SELDOM IS WE NEED TO
GET THE GOVERNMENT TO BACK OFF.
>> DANIEL RABBITT MORE THAN 20
MILLION PEOPLE HAVE COVERAGE AND
100,000 SIGNED UP THE DAY AFTER
THE ELECTION.
WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THEM?
>> WELL, FIRST, JUST TO RESPOND
TO DIANA.
I THINK IT'S MISLEADING TO SAY
ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE
SYSTEM ARE CAUSED BY GOVERNMENT
INTERFERE REPS.
THE MARKET WAS SPEAKING BEFORE
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR
COVERAGE WHEN THEY GOT SICK OR
DENIED COVERAGE OR CHARGED
EXORBINANT PREMIUMS IF THEY
APPLIED RATHER THAN GETTING
INSURANCE THROUGH THEIR
EMPLOYER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM IS SETUP LIKE A
MARKETPLACE FOR YOUR iPHONE
WHERE THE MARKETPLACE WILL
RESPOND TO CONSUMER NEEDS IN THE
SAME WAY.
THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS
STEPPED IN TO PROVIDE MEDICARE
COVERAGE FOR THE ELDERLY BECAUSE
THEY WERE STRUGGLING TO OBTAIN
COVERAGE PRIOR TO THAT.
AND THEY STEPPED IN HERE TO
PROVIDE COVERAGE TO PEOPLE WHO
COULD NOT GET IT THROUGH OTHER
MEANS PRIOR TO THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT.
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FOLKS NOW
WHO HAVE SIGNED UP?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE LAW
OF THE LAND.
LIKE YOU SAID 100,000 PEOPLE
TRIED TO SIGN UP THE DAY AFTER
THE ELECTION AND ALL INDICATIONS
IS THAT DEMAND CONTINUES TO BE
HIGHER THAN EXPECTED FOR THIS
TIME OF OPEN ENROLLMENT.
FIRST, I WOULD SAY IF YOU NEED
COVERAGE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, THROUGH THE
MARKETPLACE OR GET COVERED
ILLINOIS GO AND SIGN UP.
OPEN ENROLLMENT IS GOING ON
RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 15TH
YOUR COVERAGE YOU HAVE UNTIL
JANUARY 31 TO SIGN UP.
IF THINGS GO AS PRESIDENT-ELECT
TRUMP HAS SAID HE WANTS THEM TO
GO AND THE FINANCIAL SUBSIDIES
AND THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
LAW THAT PROVIDE COVERAGE ARE
RESCINDED, THEN I THINK A LOT OF
THE 20 MILLION PEOPLE WILL BE IN
A TOUGH SPOT AND THEIR
POLITICIANS MIGHT HEAR FROM
THEM.
>> DIANA RICKERT WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN TO THE 20 MILLION PEOPLE?
>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING
IS TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE LESSEN
THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THE
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY AND ALLOW
PEOPLE TO PURCHASE HEALTHCARE
ACROSS STATE LINES AND PURCHASE
THAT WOULD INCREASE YOUR OPTIONS
50 TIMES OVER AND ALLOW THE
MARKETPLACE TO START OFFERING
PEOPLE DIFFERENT PLANS.
RIGHT NOW YOU SEE MOSTLY HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANIES PULLING OUT
AND HEALTH INSURERS PULLING OUT
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DEAL WITH
OBAMACARE AND THE REGULATIONS
THAT COME WITH IT.
>> IS YOUR POSITION THAT THE
MARKETPLACE WOULD RESPOND
SOMEHOW TO THE 20 MILLION PEOPLE
WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT THEY WOULD.
AND THERE WOULD BE YOU KNOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO SIGN UP
THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
FOR MEDICAID OR THE EXCHANGES
BECAUSE THEIR PLANS WERE BEING
CANCELED DUE TO THE LAW.
I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A BABY
AND HER HEALTHCARE PLAN HAS BEEN
CHANGED CANCELED THREE TIMES IN
THE LAST THREE YEARS.
SO EVERY YEAR SHE HAS NO SENSE
OF WHAT KIND OF HEALTHCARE SHE
WILL HAVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OBTAINING
THE COVERAGE BECAUSE THE PLANS
THEY HAD.
THE KEY IS THAT YOU CANNOT
TINKER AROUND THE MARGINS YOU
HAVE TO PULLBACK THE GOVERNMENT
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THE
MARKETPLACE WILL BE ABLE TO STEP
UP.
>> DANIEL RABBITT DO YOU AGREE
THAT SOMEHOW THE MARKETPLACE
WILL PROVIDE FOR THE 20 MILLION
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
FOR THEM?
>> NO; NO I DO NOT AGREE.
IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S SUCCESS
YOU HAVE TO COMMON PEAR IT TO
THE WORLD WE HAD BEFORE THE LAW
WAS PASSED 50 MILLION PEOPLE
WERE UNINSURED AND THE INDIANA
SURED RATE WAS 15% AND NOW THAT
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS BEEN
IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS, ONE
MILLION ADDITIONAL PEOPLE GAINED
COVERAGE HERE IN ILLINOIS AND
THE UNINSURED RATE IS 5% THAT
DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THE
GOVERNMENT MEDDLING.
I WORRY THAT WITHOUT THE
PROTECTIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MANY OF
THOSE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
GAIN COVERAGE AND WE'VE SEEN
THAT.
WE SERVE A LOT OF DISADVANTAGED
PEOPLE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS AND THEY DID NOT
HAVE COVERAGE AND THE
MARKETPLACE WAS NOT RUSHING TO
COVER THEM.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT
HAS ANY ROLE IN PROVIDING
INSURANCE?
>> THE ROLE SHOULD BE MINIMAL
AND MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITY
SHOULD BE DELEGATED BACK TO THE
STATES.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE
PREMISE OF THE LAW WAS IT WAS
YOUR HEALTH PREMIUMS WILL GO
DOWN BY 2500 THAT HAS NOT
HAPPENED.
PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP EVERY
YEAR.
AND IF YOU LIKE YOUR DOCTOR YOU
CAN KEEP IT.
BY THAT MEASURE OBAMACARE FAILED
ITSELF.