Now that the federal government shutdown is over and lawmakers are reconvening in Washington, D.C., U.S. Sen. Rick Scott says he’s ready to “fix” the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as “Obamacare.”
The Florida Republican appeared on Fox News Sunday and was immediately asked about the ACA and how the GOP might go about addressing the affordability of personalized health care under the government subsidy program. Medical coverage and the expense of it reared its head during the longest government shutdown in history that ended last week as the Senate and the U.S. House both worried the monthly premiums on coverage would skyrocket.
Scott acknowledged health care coverage is an element that needs to be offered by the government. But he complained it was never really equitable for those who need the benefit since it was instituted in 2010 under former President Barrack Obama.
“It’s really important to me that we give people health care,” Scott said during the interview Sunday. “We have to fix this. Obamacare is a disaster… We’ve got to drive the costs of heal care down.”
One of Scott’s main criticism was that the government is sending money to insurance companies in exchange for residents who enroll in the ACA as part of the current subsidy establishment. He said that’s one of the main reasons ACA coverage is getting so unmanageable.
“I’m not suggesting we change the structure because I think we can drive down the costs,” Scott said. “This is all doable. We should not give money directly to the insurance companies.”
Given the drubbing Republicans took at the ballot box with overwhelming sweeping victories by Democrats in off-year elections on Nov. 4, Scott was asked if the GOP will face punishment at the ballot box again in the general mid-term elections set for Nov. 3 if the ACA is not modified and made more accessible for more Americans.
Scott said he didn’t see it that way and his party isn’t to blame.
“This is all caused by the Democrats,” Scott said dismissively, though he added addressing accessibility is a step in the right direction. “I’m glad Democrats are finally talking about affordability.”
