South West Illinois News

The American Health Care Act (AHCA) is not a cure-all for the ailing American health care system, but it does begin to undo the ill effects of Obamacare, U.S. Rep Mike Bost (R-IL) said recently.

“Obamacare was based on a one-size-fits-all approach that put bureaucrats in Washington in charge of your health care,” Bost said. "Its flaws are structural and cannot be fixed by tweaking at the margins. Many of the counties in the Illinois 12th Congressional District only have one option through the exchange under Obamacare, and that plan’s premiums have skyrocketed by 70 percent. In some states, insurers are fleeing entirely.”

Bost, who voted for the AHCA, said that when it comes to health care, the country has two choices: continue operating under the ACA as it moves toward collapse or begin the process of putting a different system in place. 

While he does not believe the AHCA is a perfect system, he thinks it is a good start.

“The American Health Care Act is not perfect, but it is a step in the right direction to decrease premiums and expand and enhance health care options so Americans can find a plan that’s right for them," he said. "Importantly, the bill provides a stable transition to help ensure low-income Americans have access to quality, affordable options through a new, competitive, state-based private insurance marketplace.”