President Trump’s agreement with House conservatives to make major changes to the Republican plan to repeal Obamacare doesn’t address a major request from GOP moderates to boost tax credits to help poor seniors pay for their insurance.
Trump and 13 members of the Republican Study Committee agreed to add mandatory Medicaid work requirements and a choice for states to use block grants or per capita caps for the program.
Meanwhile, moderate GOP lawmakers are seeking bigger tax credits for senior citizens after a Congressional Budget Office estimate showed the credits in the American Health Care Act aren’t enough.
“Needless to say, I’ve got some pretty substantial issues,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla. “If you are over 55 and you are poor … but what happens to those folks.”
Unlike Obamacare, the Republican plan would give out tax credits based on age instead of income. Therefore, someone who is older would receive a larger tax credit than a younger person.
However, the American Health Care Act would allow insurers to charge seniors five times more for a plan than a younger person. Obamacare allowed insurers to charge three times as much.
Someone 50 to 59 would receive a tax credit of $3,500 and someone above 60 would get $4,000. However, the CBO said seniors would receive double the tax credits of a younger person but could wind up paying five times more.
That has spooked some moderate Republicans who want bigger tax credits for seniors who aren’t old enough to get Medicare but don’t qualify for Medicaid. Medicare eligibility starts at age 65.
House Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said he is discussing potential changes with the moderate Tuesday Group, but didn’t commit to any increase in the tax credits.
Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., a member of the Republican Study Committee, said other avenues could address bigger tax credits, including tax reform expected to be considered later this year.
“There is another vehicle that can change those,” Roe said.
Scalise said the House would vote Thursday before a new CBO score would be ready.
Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., leader of the Republican Study Committee, said the group of 170 lawmakers would like to look at any other changes that are made.
“We have heard some discussion that maybe there is some deficiency in some of the age ranges,” he said.
