The American Health Care Act passed by House Republicans earlier this month will reduce the deficit by $119 billion over the next decade—while leaving 23 million more Americans without insurance than if ObamaCare remains in place, according to the Congressional Budget Office's score of the bill released Wednesday. NPR reports that while premiums could go down for some people under the AHCA, the CBO warns of "extremely high premiums" for people with preexisting conditions. Insurance could also be thousands of dollars more expensive for people who are pregnant or have issues with addiction or mental health. The AHCA would reduce the deficit by cutting Medicaid by $884 billion and subsidies for individual health insurance by $276 billion.
Whether or not insurance premiums go up for Americans under the AHCA depends partly on what state they live in. The AHCA allows for states to get waivers that would lower premiums by allowing cheaper plans that don't cover "major medical risks." But it also largely depends on age, as Vox explains. A 64-year-old making $26,500 a year would pay between $13,600 and $16,100 for insurance under the AHCA, depending on if their state gets waivers. That's up from $1,700 under ObamaCare. A 64-year-old making $68,200 would also see their premiums increase if they live in a state that doesn't get the waivers. That's because the AHCA allows insurers to charge older people up to five times as much as younger people. The Washington Post reports the Senate is unlikely to pass the AHCA as it stands and is working on its own bill. (More American Health Care Act stories.)
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