Kaiser Family Foundation Launches Tool to Compare ACA Replacement Plans

As the President and Republicans in Congress attempt to follow through on legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and dismantle Medicaid, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a new tool that lets concerned citizens compare various replacement plans. The tool allows users to compare the impact of the bill recently passed by the House of Representatives (American Health Care Act, or AHCA); the bill currently under consideration by the Senate (Better Care Reconciliation Act or BCRA); and current law.  Users can also elect to compare other proposals.

The tool compares plans along a number of different metrics, from their overall approach to specifics like premium subsidies, individual health insurance market rates, women’s health, and the treatment of Medicaid and Medicare.

For example, in considering the effect on Medicare, the site reminds us of the Affordable Care Act’s provisions including: 

Coverage enhancements

• Gradually close the Medicare Part D coverage gap (“donut hole”) by 2020.
• Prohibit Medicare Advantage plans from imposing higher cost-sharing requirements for some Medicare covered benefits than is required under traditional Medicare.

 Changes to Provider Payments

• Eliminate cost-sharing for Medicare covered preventive services that are recommended (rated A or B) by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and waive the Medicare deductible for colorectal cancer screening tests.
• Reduce payments for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; phase-in adjustments to plan payments for coding practices and provide the Secretary the authority to further adjust plan payments for coding intensity.

 Other changes to Medicare

• Increase Medicare premiums (Parts B and D) for higher income beneficiaries (those with incomes above $85,000/individual and $170,000/couple).

Whereas the AHCA and BCRA would:

Revenues

• Repeal the HI payroll tax on high earners, beginning after December 31, 2022.
• Repeal the annual fee paid by branded prescription drug manufacturers, beginning after December 31, 2017.
• Reinstate the tax deduction for employers who receive Part D retiree drug subsidy (RDS) payments to provide creditable prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, beginning after December 31, 2016.

 Other changes to Medicare

• Leaves many ACA changes in place.

View the tool on the Kaiser Family Foundation website.