Fox anchor pretends millions who will lose coverage from “skinny repeal” will do so “of their own volition”
Published
During the July 27 edition of Fox News’ Happening Now, anchor Jon Scott wondered if the latest attempt by Republicans in the Senate to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the so-called “skinny repeal,” would not actually strip millions of people of their health insurance but would remove the individual mandate and allow Americans to opt out “of their own volition.” In reality, the latest GOP proposal would repeal the individual and employer mandates, end both the Prevention and Public Health Fund and the Community Health Center Fund, and defund Planned Parenthood, restricting health care access for millions. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the legislation would result in 15 million fewer Americans with health insurance coverage next year and would cut tens of billions of dollars from Medicaid over the coming decade. The removal of the individual mandate would also lead to a significant spike in insurance premiums on the individual market. Finally, after years of lies from Fox News and other right-wing outlets about the ACA being trapped in a “death spiral,” the skinny repeal legislation under consideration in the Senate seems likely to trigger one. From the July 27 edition of Happening Now: