The logical response to health care legislation is Medicare for All. Until we have what every other industrialized nation provides, the ACA must continue to be the law, albeit with improved aspects.
The Senate and House bills are the worst sort of pandering to the wealthy and throw the rest of us "under the bus." Living in a civilized society means we take care of our people and the country in which we live.
Without access to health care, those who become sick or injured cannot contribute to society.
Block grant Medicaid? When the money runs out, those who are disabled, who need health care and elders who need nursing home care might as well be given cyanide. Is that how a society should treat those who can no longer care for themselves? No thinking person who has a heart supports that nonsense.
The Republican members of the General Assembly in our own Commonwealth of Virginia, whether because they are simply too mean or too frightened of primaries, have refused to close the Medicaid gap. This is for people who are working but are earning too little to even qualify for a subsidy to purchase health insurance. The ACA was written with the expectation that all states would close this gap for their low-wage workers, therefore the subsidy doesn't kick in until people earn at least 100 percent of the poverty level.
I hope that all who read this are healthy and never need anyone to help them with anything. But sadly that is not the case for everyone. If you care about your family, friends and neighbors, please contact your representatives in Congress and the General Assembly and let them know you support bills that provide access to affordable, quality health care for all.
Cedar Dvorin
Alexandria