Paul: Repeal, replace ObamaCare simultaneously

The Kentucky Republican wrote in an op-ed published by Rare that it would be “wise” to vote on a replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act as they repeal the law.

 

“If Congress fails to vote on a replacement at the same time as repeal, the repealers risk assuming the blame for the continued unraveling of Obamacare. For mark my words, Obamacare will continue to unravel and wreak havoc for years to come,” he wrote. 

Senate GOP leadership has indicated they support having a multi-year “offramp” for the Affordable Care Act, which would delay repeal of the law as lawmakers try to hash out a replacement plan. 

Paul floated replacing ObamaCare with “freedom,” including saving money in a health savings account and buying insurance across state lines. 

{mosads}Senate Republicans are expected to vote this week on instructions that will let them repeal large chunks of the Affordable Care Act using reconciliation.

The budgetary process will allow the repeal measure to clear the Senate with only 50 votes. That would allow leadership to lose two GOP senators before needing to flip Democrats or get the vice president to weigh in on a 50-50 tie. 

Congressional Republicans haven’t publicly coalesced around a replacement plan, which will likely need Democratic support to pass the upper chamber. 

But many lawmakers have said they support keeping some aspects of ObamaCare, including a provision that allowed children to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26.

Paul, however, warned that a “partial repeal” would “only accelerate the current chaos.” 

“My fear is that if you leave part of Obamacare in place … then you will see an acceleration of adverse selection and ultimately mass bankruptcy of the healthcare insurance industry,” he said. 

He added that while “partial repeal of Obamacare will likely win the day, but when the insurance companies come to Washington crying for a bailout don’t say that no one warned of this preventable disaster.”