I'm calling it: Trump's healthcare-plan doesn't actually exist and is a republican power-play.

[DetlefK]

My prediction:

Trump has a list of ideas he wants in his final plan... And that's how far he has come. He has a final list of demands, not a plan how to make those demands reality. (That's some underling's job.)

Trump is touting this bestest healthcare-plan ever... except he cannot show it to you. That would be a bad negotiation-tactic. But his plan is great, fantastic, terrific. Just believe him on that, okay?

So, what's the next step?

1. He will try to draw the Republicans and the Democrats in on a comprehensive, bipartisan healthcare-reform, that of course includes repealing the ACA. But repealing wouldn't be bad, because he already has a replacement ready...

2. Trump will try to build this healthcare-reform on 3 pillars: his ideas (which are still secret and he cannot tell you about it, because that would be a bad negotiation-tactic), the republican ideas (as soon as they can come up with some), and the democratic ideas (which are: ACA, single-payer, Medicare-For-All).

3a. When the thing inevitably collapses, Trump will blame it on the Democrats for refusing to work with the Republicans and he will blame it to a lesser extrent on the Republicans for refusing to adopt his ideas (which he still cannot get into the details).
In case of failure, Trump will deny any responsibility.

3b. IF the whole thing eventually turns into something that is not a burning shit-heap and can be passed off as some sort of success, Trump will say that this is all thanks to him. (And this is possible, if some Democrats who are vulnerable in 2018 are willing to make nice and play the token bipartisan.)
In case of not-failure, Trump will tout this as a grand victory and he will attack the media and the experts who refuse to say that this will be the best healthcare-plan ever.
The RW-media will play along by idolizing Trump for coming up with some sort of plan at all.
They will make rosy predictions and declare it a success way before performance has even been measured.
And when the plan inevitably runs into problems, they will excuse that as a mere hiccup and wax how fantastic the plan will perform in the future.
Just believe them, okay? Trump's plan sucks right now, but once it has been in place for a few years, it will eventually be fantastic.

[Trust Buster]

1. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COVER PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS AND BANNING YEARLY AND LIFETIME

CAPS WITHOUT ENLARGING THE INSURANCE POOL THROUGH THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE. The insurance model will fall apart. Republicans have so demonized the individual mandate that that they have politically painted themselves into a corner that they cannot escape from. Trump is totally irrelevant in the face of this political reality.

[still_one]

2. It does exist, and it isn't being hidden. Both Tom Price, his HHS pick, and Paul Ryan have

already told us what it is. It is a method of privatization, HSA, and vouchers, and they want it not just for the ACA, but Medicare and Medicaid also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1666994

Call and write you Congress person. If this actually happens, healthcare will be rationed in this country, with those with means receiving better treatment.

Let's see Congress give themselves this same thing? They won't do it

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. The episode of The Office aptly titled "Health Care"...

....wherein Michael has Dwight downsize the benefits in the company health care plan.

After the employees are rightfully outraged, Michael promises everyone a "big surprise" to make up for everyone.

First it's a weekend in Atlantic City, which never happens. Then he tries to arrange a tour of a mine shaft, which also doesn't happen. Then he brings in ice cream sandwiches in an attempt to pass that off as the big surprise, until everyone calls him out on it. In the final scene, everyone confronts him and demands to know what his "big surprise" is.....

Oscar: Well?
Michael: Well, what? You could be referring to anything.
Oscar: OK, the health care plan.
Pam: Why did you put Dwight in charge of that? He did a horrible job.
Michael: Uh, Dwight? Did you raise benefits?
Dwight: I most certainly did not.
Michael: Oh come on! That's horrible! Aaah... Thanks, Dwight, for a crappy plan. Ah, Damn! Oh, mmm, I wish I had time to change it, but Jan needs it by five, and... what time is it, what time is it? [looks at watch] Ah, it's after five. Oh, oh it's awful. So, well, OK. See you guys on Monday.
Angela: What about the surprise?
Michael: Oh... Yes. Exactly. Thank you Angela, for reminding me. Terrific. Um, before I tell everybody what the big surprise is, would you like to tell me what you think the big surprise is?
Stanley: We all think you don't have a surprise.
Michael: All right, I have some news for you. There is a big surprise. And... here it is. Here we go. And the big surprise is... Brrrrrrrr! Drum roll... Brrrrrrrr! Brrrrrrrr!

Michael: When I am backed into a corner, that is when I come alive. See I learned improve from the greats, like, um, Drew Carey and Ryan Stiles.

Michael: [clapping hands] God, yeah... Ah! This...

The episode ends with Michael just continuing to stall and everyone just walking off in disgust about the lack of the "surprise".