Alternative is no cure

Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee head, has introduced an awesome alternative to Obamacare. There was urgency, because Republicans were getting nowhere fast by just saying “repeal” with zero alternative whatsoever.

Here is the fab core of Gillespie’s plan: Use tax credits to buy your own insurance. Justification: “A household in Virginia of two 36-year-olds making $63,000 a year gets no subsidy under Obamacare, but will get $4,200 in tax credits to buy their own insurance.” Except two people making $63,000 annually is $126,000, twice the national average. Way to sneak that in, Ed. Under Gillespie’s plan, people making tons of money will get lots of tax credits to buy their own insurance. Of course, they could buy their own insurance anyway. They’re rich.

Additionally, Gillespie’s plan would eliminate Obamacare’s guarantees of insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions, so lots more citizens would be left uninsured. What about the millions of poor people newly covered through Obamacare who wouldn’t receive subsidies at all? Back to the hospital emergency rooms for them.

Face it, the only people who should hate Obamacare are rich people, and they stand to profit by yet another Republican tax cut, dressed up like a health care plan.

Nancy Runyan

Spokane Valley