Northern Michigan Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) says he supports the GOP health care bill in its current form. The legislation could come up for a vote on the floor of the U.S. House as soon as this week.
“The bill is our next essential step to make sure that we deal with the reality that Obamacare has failed,” Bergman told IPR News Radio in an interview last Friday.
During a House Budget Committee meeting last week, Bergman voted yes to send the bill to the full House. The measure passed 19-17, with three Republicans voting against it.
Among many wide-ranging reforms, the American Health Care Act would eliminate the mandate that all people buy health insurance or pay a tax. New enrollees could join Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act’s rules until 2020. The measure would also create a new system to give tax credits to those buying insurance over the individual market.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that 14 million fewer people would have health insurance next year under the Republican plan, compared with Obamacare. The CBO report says that number would grow to 24 million by 2026.
Bergman said he doubts the CBO’s projections.
“I’m not so sure that the Congressional Budget Office’s estimates are correct in the long term,” Bergman said.
“I tend not to worry about things before it’s time to get concerned, that’s the pilot in me,” Bergman said. “Make sure you do your plan right and make sure that you’re aware of the situation.”