President of the Galen Institute U.S. President Biden, out of frame, meets with labor union leaders in the Oval Office on February 17, 2021 in Washington, D.C. to discuss his $1.9 trillion economic stimulus plan. Pete Marovich-Pool / Getty Images
Key Takeaways
Instead of addressing Obamacare’s many flaws and costly mandates, the Democrats’ misguided proposal simply throws more money at insurance companies.
The economic dislocation caused by COVID-19 did not appear to have had a significant adverse effect on health insurance coverage.
Congress should pursue policies that reduce health costs and expand access to care and health care choices by eliminating cost-increasing government mandates.
Grace-Marie Turner is president of the Galen Institute.
The following is an open letter from 68 leaders participating in the Health Policy Consensus Group. The full list of signatories follows the letter.
Democrats in Congress have proposed a COVID-19 relief bill that includes provisions to dramatically increase government subsidies for health care coverage for millions of people who already have insurance while further expanding government control over health care.
The legislation would increase for more than two years government payments to insurance companies via the Affordable Care Act by:
Removing even the de minimis premium payments required of people earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level.