something else that actually changes is the subsidies under the affordable care act get translated into tax credits. and then there s one other big component as well and that is the that the taxes that were created to finance the affordable care act, well they end up getting repealed and many critics of the house republican legislation see this is a big tax boon for the wealthiest of americans. here s one thing that actually stays and that is, children are allowed to stay on to their parents health care plans up to the age of 26. that was one of the most popular features of the affordable care act that does stay. one other thing that ends up going and one of the wrinkles to get the house freedom caucus the conservative people involved, the macarthur amendment allowed states to get rid of their disposal to opt out as some of the essential health care benefits people think this could end up impacting those with preexisting conditions, and that has been the focus of the debate
was palletable to the tuesday group and the freedom caucus. you had congressman upton and congressman long who were saying we can t vote for this thing because there s no guarantees that people have preexisting conditions will be able to get health insurance. that s when the break through moment happened yesterday when congressman upton and congressman long proposed an $8 billion fund to go to the states to help pay premium support for people who are in high risk pools. now, there is some question, and charles schumer, the senate minority leader raised this, as to whether or not that particular provision in the amendment might run afoul of what s called the bird rule. this is a reconciliation bill. there s only so many things that you can change in an existing bill. they all have to do with spending and the budget. this one little adjustment they made here may run afoul with that. i know the macarthur and meadows amendment was run through the senate budget committee to make
between the freedom caucus and other gop members compared to what it was back in march. what specifically in this bill narrowed that gap. we heard representatives earlier talking about pre-existing conditions. was that the only issue or was there something else involved that we re not aware of? so, they both made the bill more conservative by letting states opt out of the requirements of some of obamacare but they also put in this macarthur amendment from new jersey republican congressman to get $8 billion to pay for to pay for pre-existing people. so, that s really that s the key provision here. without that, the bills would have no chance of passing. we ll learn how it plays out later today. we continue following breaking news on prince philip. we learned about half an hour ago we ll step down from his royal duties. let s go to nbc news foreign correspondent keir simmons in
will. even with the macarthur amendment, you will not have a guarantee that everyone with pre-existing conditions gets coverage. do you acknowledge that? i reconciled myself on the pre-existing conditions of in this way. if we need to subsidize pre-existing conditions in the federal government that s part of the price of getting rid of obamacare. i recognize that s likely to be the case from the beginning seven and a half years ago. i have been in the business of helping people with pre-existing conditions. that is a better way to do it. i m a federalist. i believe the best decisions were made as close to the people as possible. we demonstrated that over and over again in the united states congress. why we won t serve it back to the states and wash our hands and do the smart thing like sell across state lines. do tort reform. that is $54 billion in savings. we can give people choices. you can do tort reform.
protections for people with pre-existing conditions. tweeted today, verified, macarthur amendment strengthens. but that is not verified despite ryan s use of the caps off button. his tweet contradicts the findings of really just about everyone who has looked at the bill including the aarp, which one hour after ryan s claim tweeted that it, quote, does not adequately protect patients with pre-existing conditions. citing that fact, michigan republican fred upton, who had previously co-authored obamacare repeal and replace plans came out against the bill today. by nbc news count, there are now 21 house republicans opposed, 18 more who are undecided or not talking. now, republicans can only lose 22 votes and still pass the bill, which they hope to do before the house recess starts on thursday. of course even if they manage to pass the bill, it would then go to the senate which almost certainly would not pass it in its current form. at this point, according to the washington post, house