Amid the disagreement over an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies that ground the federal government to a halt for 43 days, Senator Bill Cassidy says he has a better idea – give that subsidy directly to the American people. Cassidy says that money currently goes to the insurance companies, and a significant portion of it is not going towards patient care.
“This coming year, $26 billion of taxpayer money to insurance companies who then take 20% of it for profit and overhead,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy says under his plan, the people are in full control of their health care dollars.
“Instead, we give it to an account, controlled by the family, typically by the mom, by the wife, who will do things that are right for her pocketbook and right for her family’s health,” Cassidy suggested.
Cassidy says his plan essentially redirects taxpayer money from those who don’t need it to those who do need it.
“If you send $10 billion, just to pick a number, to the insurance companies, they take 20% of it for overhead and profit. If you send the money directly to the patient, 100% goes to the patient, and they can spend it on the health care they need,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy says some Democrats have said they’re receptive to his idea; now, he says it’s a matter of getting enough of them onboard to make it work. He says his plan also has the support of President Trump.
