GOP health plan covers pre-existing conditions – no lie?

Bill Rovin (letter June 1) calls Rep. David Valadao a liar because Valadao states that people with pre-existing conditions will be covered under the initial Republican proposal to replace Obamacare.

It is Mr. Rovin who is dissembling. The Republican plan allows states to opt for waivers and gives them access to a well-funded high-risk pool which provides capital that can be used to pay the difference between the premiums allowed under Obamacare and those that would normally be charged for high-risk patients.

Presently premiums are increasing for all, while choice decreases as insurers exit the Obamacare exchanges to avoid unacceptable financial risk.

Mr. Rovin’s assertion that the law will eliminate health care for 20 million Americans is misinformed. The Congressional Budget Office estimates there will be 23 million fewer insured by 2027 under the law, but that number assumes that without the insurance mandate, most healthy young people will not take out insurance.

That cohort is already several million strong. Their number will likely be reduced as low-premium, high-deductible catastrophic policies not now allowed become available.

Mr. Rovin’s parting “greedy, heartless Republicans” harangue is the usual liberal teeth gnashing we’ve become accustomed to since the election.

This story was originally published June 4, 2017 at 3:32 PM with the headline "GOP health plan covers pre-existing conditions – no lie?."