Though Republicans are planning for a swift repeal of the ACA, this does not mean Americans will immediately lose health insurance coverage, Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., a member of the Trump transition team, said in an interview on MSNBC.
"There's no reason for any kind of panic. The sky is not falling," Rep. Collins said. The parts of the law targeted for immediate replacement include the employer mandate and taxes on insurance companies and medical device companies, which do not affect patients or their ability to access care, he said. Health insurance plans gained under the law are already locked in for the next two years, according to Rep. Collins.
"Immediately, what we're saying is we are not going to pull the rug out from under anyone," Rep. Collins said. "There's not going to be any changes in 2017. There's not going to be changes in 2018. Those products have already been approved by the state insurance agencies, or for the 2018 time, are in negotiation right now."
He said Republicans in Congress plan to repeal the ACA quickly and produce a replacement plan by June or July to give insurance companies time to shift gears for plans beginning in 2019. "We are talking about new plans in 2019 or later, that will be more affordable, let patients pick their doctors," Rep. Collins said. "We will have to figure out exactly how we make sure Americans are not disadvantaged. That's a promise we've made."
Listen to the full interview here.
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