Here’s How the GOP Health Care Bill Would Hurt ‘Less Healthy People’

The Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday released an analysis of the GOP health care bill that narrowly passed in the House this month, and the projections are not good for people with preexisting conditions.

According to the report, the latest version of the American Health Care Act would cause a staggering increase in premium prices for “less healthy people” — including those with preexisting medical conditions — and make it harder for them to purchase insurance.

“… Premiums would vary significantly according to health status and the types of benefits provided, and less healthy people would face extremely high premiums, despite the additional funding that would be available under [the AHCA] to help reduce premiums,” the analysis reads.

“Over time, it would become more difficult for less healthy people (including people with preexisting medical conditions) in those states to purchase insurance because their premiums would continue to increase rapidly,” the report adds.

Should the bill pass in the Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump, CBO’s report projects that 14 million would lose health insurance by next year — that number would climb to 23 million by 2026.

The legislation is expected to face a substantial challenge in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday expressed doubt on whether the bill could garner enough support to pass in its current form.

“I don’t know how we get to 50 at the moment,” Mr. McConnell told Reuters. “But that’s the goal.”