The latest proposal from the Republican-led U.S. Senate to gut the Affordable Care Act offers the opportunity for Americans, particularly young people, to purchase less expensive policies with skimpier benefits.
But advocates for young Americans say Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s recent additions to the GOP’s Better Care Reconciliation Act, also known as Trumpcare, miss the mark. Millennials want adequate benefits and tend to use more services provided via Obamacare’s essential health benefit packages such as mental health and substance abuse treatment that may not be a part of bare-bones plans.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks to members of the media on Capitol Hill in Washington Thursday, July 13, 2017. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. rolled out the GOP’s revised health care bill, pushing toward a showdown vote next week with opposition within the Republican ranks. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
“Contrary to stereotypes, young adults need access to comprehensive insurance to meet their health needs,” Young Invincibles executive director Jen Mishory said following the release last week of the GOP Senate leadership’s latest health bill.
For example, more than 75% of mental health conditions begin by the age of 24, National Alliance on Mental Illness data shows. Thus, including mental health as an essential health benefit is critical.
Conservative opponents of Obamacare say young people that are healthy need catastrophic coverage, but few Americans purchase such coverage.
“Just 3% of young people currently enroll in catastrophic coverage,” Young Invincibles Mishory said. “Moreover, deductibles for these plans will be a whopping $7,350. The average Millennials’ net worth next year is estimated to be $11,724.”
Another Congressional Budget Office “score” of the legislation that may include Cruz’s additions, could come this week. The U.S. is Senate is deeply divided on the legislation, pushed by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and its fate remains uncertain.
Article source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2017/07/16/millennials-dont-like-gop-senates-cheap-health-plans/