Republicans split on scrapping Obamacare vs reforming healthcare law

Republicans of all stripes harbor deep frustrations over the rising costs of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. But while some lawmakers say it’s time to abandon the system, others worry that a radical change could do more harm than good.

Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., said she has a hard time imagining what that change should look like.

“I don’t know if you can remove it completely,” Hageman said. “We need to have stability and certainty in the market.”

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Rep. Harriet Hageman testifies on a resolution recommending that the House declare Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress on June 11, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, agreed with Hageman.

“It’s not going to go away anytime soon. I think there are some aspects of the Obamacare policy that are positive,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think people want to see [it] go away. But there are ways to reform this, and it’s not just about sending more money to insurance companies. »

On the other hand, lawmakers like Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., had a quick answer ready on whether Republicans should consider finding an alternative.

“Well, yes! Obamacare is a failure,” Fine said. “That is very clear.”

“Borrowing money from your children and grandchildren to hide what something really costs doesn’t reduce costs. It’s just lying about what they are. I don’t think we have a choice, because if we stay on the path of Obamacare, we will bankrupt the country.”

Among other health care issues, GOP divisions over Obamacare come as Republicans debate whether to extend emergency Obamacare subsidies during the COVID era or let the aid expire at the end of the month.

Republicans concerned about the nation’s fiscal situation hope that cutting federal aid will help bring the country closer to its pre-COVID-19 spending levels. Democrats, on the other hand, fear that the expiration of the subsidies could leave 90 percent of Obamacare’s 24 million subscribers with higher premiums overnight.

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Discussions over rising health care costs, primarily around Obamacare, have divided Republicans as they consider reforming or replacing the system. (Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal policy think tank, maintaining the subsidies could cost more than $30 billion a year.

As part of these discussions, Republicans explored how to reform Obamacare to make it more affordable. For Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., the change can’t be marginal.

“I would say we can’t tinker here. If we tinker, we’re really not going to solve this problem,” Burlison said.

In some ways, Burlison believes that replacing Obamacare should not be the Republican Party’s priority. By creating a better alternative, he believes Republicans can encourage policyholders to voluntarily abandon Obamacare.

“I think we need to come up with a new option and introduce it. And honestly, I think this option will be so great that no one will want to participate in Obamacare anymore,” Burlison said.

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Rep. Eric Burlison participates in the Republican Study Committee press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 21, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Other Republicans would like to explore more substantial reforms — perhaps even abandon the program — but are skeptical of large-scale change in the face of current political realities.

“The question is, can you pass it? Sixty votes in the Senate. It’s not going to happen. It’s just not realistic. So let’s talk about things we can pass,” said Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., when asked if Republicans should seek an alternative.

To advance most legislation, Senate Republicans need 60 votes. They hold only 53 seats in the chamber.

Instead, McCormick believes Republicans can make changes that will make the health care industry more competitive to reduce costs, even if Obamacare remains in place.

“The reason you have a competitive market for uninsured products like LASIK eye surgery, which is now about the same as it was 40 or 50 years ago. Why? Because it’s competitive. Even despite all the inflationary costs of everything else, it hasn’t gone up. Because we have better competition, because it’s not paid for by insurance,” McCormick said.

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“When insurance gets involved, when the government gets involved, it becomes, by design, more expensive,” McCormick said.