ACA is repealing itself - as designed by the Dems who had control, and wrote it with the input of union bosses, academics, insurance companies and pharma. It was a Trojan horse, and the dreaded insurance companies fell for it with the expectations of taxpayer funded bailouts...promised bailouts.
I agree that the mantra 'repeal and replace' was campaign rhetoric. Obamacare is so deeply intertwined with the spinal column of our healthcare delivery system...as designed... that only careful and thoughtful excision can remove the cancer without killing the patient.
We all know that single payer is the goal - a goal thwarted by other Dems. Do the research.
Medicare has unfunded liabilities in double digit trillions. Medicaid spending approaches 1 trillion annually. Neither one could exist without the taxpayer and the privately insured taking up the slack.
There are a few measures that might be worth looking into - the federal government maintains health insurance 'exchanges' for its employees...giving a choice between policy coverages among several different companies. The policies are not free - but the premium cost is mitigated at a ratio of about 40/60. Open that up to those whose employers don't provide health insurance. Strengthen HSA's, and catastrophic coverage choices. Choices will lower prices - choices of treatments, tests and drugs prescribed by physicians will help lower prices.
Reassess the FDA's method of approval of a drug, which can cause unnecessary delays and expenses. Mr sg uses an inhaler that costs $400.00 a month in the states, per his pulmonary doctor the same drug is only $10 in India. Why?
ACA wasn't an attempt to address the cost of healthcare - the intention was to involve the US taxpayer into paying more into the pockets of pharma and insurance companies. Wait until the Cadillac tax takes effect in the next couple of years - was supposed to have been implemented several years ago as a provision of ACA...and source of funding. Now, (wonder of wonders) some of the groups who helped draft the ACA, want that part repealed, as it should be.