CBO: GOP healthcare bill saves money, covers fewer

The latest version of the Republican Senate healthcare bill would save taxpayers $321 billion by 2026 but would insure 22 million fewer Americans, according to an estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The Senate version reduces healthcare spending by $202 billion more than the House bill passed last month. But the numbers still don’t look good for Republicans. The CBO predicts that by next year 15 million more people won’t have insurance under the Senate bill than under the current law—primarily because it would eliminate Obamacare’s individual mandate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., plans to finish tweaking the healthcare bill and schedule a vote before the end of the week. So far, five Republican senators say they won’t vote for the bill in its current form—more than enough to sink the effort. McConnell, in search of winning more support, has already made several changes to the bill since its initial release last Thursday. An updated version of the bill, released Monday, imposes a six-month waiting period for anyone whose insurance lapses for 63 days or more. Conservatives claim the waiting period helps stabilize the market and reduce costs by ensuring that people don’t jump into the insurance pool only when they’re sick and pull back out of it when they’re healthy.

We Sift the news so you don't have to.