Writing in a letter to the editor for The Denver Post, Millennial Policy Center President Jimmy Sengenberger explains why the Post’s claim that the Senate healthcare bill will “cost 22 million people access to health care by 2026” is misleading:
“Your editorial urges Sen. Cory Gardner to “join the Obamacare repeal protest” in part because the Senate health care bill will “cost 22 million people access to health care by 2026.” This is disingenuous.
If you’re going to cite the Congressional Budget Office estimate of 22 million people without health insurance, it is important to note that the number includes 15 million who would leave the market voluntarily next year, due to the elimination of the individual mandate. That’s almost three-quarters, in 2018 alone.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that we are talking about health insurance, not health care. For many, like my parents, having insurance with high premiums and high deductibles doesn’t equal access to care (I cannot afford and don’t have insurance under Obamacare). You can reasonably disagree with and oppose the Senate bill, but let’s at least be honest about it.”
“You can reasonably disagree with and oppose the Senate bill, but let’s at least be honest about it.”MPC President Jimmy Sengenberger
