Dem senator goes on tweet storm over leaked ObamaCare repeal plan

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) blasted the leaked Republican plans for repealing and replacing ObamaCare in a Friday night tweet storm.

A draft House Republican ObamaCare bill was leaked on Friday and includes plans to dismantle the core aspects of the healthcare law and replace them with a system centered on a new tax credit.

The measure is dated Feb. 10, so it is not the most recent version of Republicans’ plan. It is unclear how much has changed since then.

{mosads}Murphy starts his “rant” with a tweet saying, “Let me count thy ways that the leaked GOP ACA repeal plan will totally, completely, monumentally screw you.”

He followed it with a series of tweets highlighting six parts of the draft ObamaCare repeal bill.

Let me count thy ways that the leaked GOP ACA repeal plan will totally, completely, monumentally screw you.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(1) You get a couple thousand bucks to help u buy insurance. That’s it. If u aren’t rich or healthy, u won’t be able to afford anything.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(2) It gets worse. When u can’t afford your premiums bc the tax credit is too small, you get a huge penalty when you try to sign up again.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(3) Coverage mandates and penalties only work if you make insurance affordable. GOP plan cuts subsidies so much that penalty is unworkable.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(4) Mandatory benefits are repealed. So even if you CAN get insurance, it doesn’t have to cover ANYTHING. Out of pocket expenses skyrocket.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 24, 2017

(5) Oh, and Medicaid expansion is effectively GONE. Millions and millions lose coverage, start using ERs again for health care. Others die.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 25, 2017

(6) Last rant, for now. If you’re older, your premiums go WAY up. GOP plan guts premium protections for older consumers.

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 25, 2017

In contrast to ObamaCare, the credits are not based on income, which Democrats argue means not enough help is given to low-income people to be able to afford coverage. Republicans say income-based credits discourage work. 

The GOP plan is paid for in part through a proposal to start taxing more generous employer-sponsored health insurance plans. The proposal would start taxing plans above the 90th percentile of premiums.