With pressure mounting in Washington for lawmakers to figure out the future of America’s healthcare system, U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo. 7th District, said extending Affordable Care Act subsidies isn’t the answer.
Burlison called the ACA—better known as Obamacare— “a death spiral.”
“I think it’s a fool’s errand to throw money down on the sinking ship,” said Burlison. “Instead, we really need to reform healthcare and let people purchase the healthcare that they truly want and need.”
Burlison told Missourinet that it’s time to put health care decisions back in the hands of the patient.
“Let patients take their dollars, take their employer dollars and any kind of federal subsidies that might be eligible and let them go and shop on the marketplace the way that you shop for auto insurance, for example,” said Burlison.
He said auto insurance has gone up a little bit, but nothing compared to the cost of health insurance.
“And once we return to a market choice and let consumers pick their insurance products, you’re going to see competition will drive down costs and people will pick the policies that give them the best access to the healthcare that they really want,” said Burlison.
Republicans are split between letting the enhanced ACA subsidies expire or replacing them with options like health savings accounts, while Democrats are pushing for an extension without additional items—some calling for one year, others for a longer fix.
The ACA’s enhanced subsidies expire at the end of this year.
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