Better speak up about Better Care Act

Find out what is in this bill and let your senators know what you think about higher deductibles, less coverage for mental-health care and maternity benefits, and more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires financed by cuts in Medicaid. And don’t be fooled by promises that this bill will give states more flexibility (it won’t), lower your health-care costs (it won’t), or make everyone more responsible for his or her own health (it won’t).

Yes, the bill ultimately would save tax dollars, by phasing out coverage for insurance benefits now required by law. But it would come at the expense of millions of Americans’ financial stability. A family earning $55,000 a year could find itself paying $20,000 a year in insurance costs. That, of course, would mean it would go without insurance.

If the Senate passes this dreadful bill, we will all be sorry.

Who thinks so? Governors. The American Hospital Association. AARP, the lobbying group for seniors, which says the bill is an age tax. The American College of Physicians. The American Association of Medical Colleges. The American Academy of Pediatrics. The American Heart Association. (“The Senate draft health care bill is literally heartless.”) The American Lung Association. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The American Medical Association.

A spokesman for AMA said, “There are not really many parts of this that we like. Does it improve coverage? No. Does it improve affordability? No. Does it stabilize the safety net? Medicaid? No.”

The bill would cut $772 billion from Medicaid over the next decade, at great harm to children and patients in nursing homes. What kind of society treats its most vulnerable that way?

One of the most telling statements came from McConnell, who warned Republicans that if they didn’t all get on board, they’d have to compromise with the Democrats. Horrors!

Tell Congress what you think, but only if you really know what you think. Don’t support this bill just because you like Trump or hate government or have no intention of ever buying health insurance. If Americans do their homework and learn what’s in this bill, it will be defeated. Congress will have to come up with a plan that is fair and affordable and that works as hard as Americans do for their money.

This Fourth of July, do your civic duty. Complain!