Give us a glimpse of those magic health care beans, Trump

Vice-President elect Mike Pence says the repeal of Obamacare will begin on Jan. 20 as promised.

“It will literally begin on day one,” he said — even though it’s a Friday.

And Pence says the result will be more choice.

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“A future that is built not on growing government, not on mandates, not on taxes, but rather a future that is built on giving the American people more choices in health care, allowing the power of the free marketplace to flow in,” Pence said.

But when reporters began asking Pence specific questions about the transition to the new system, he got quiet.

“The president-elect’s advisory said on TV that nobody who has insurance now under Obamacare will go without it,” one reporter asked. “Is that also your priority …?”

“How do you prevent private insurance from pulling out, once you repeal?” another asked.

There were no answers.

Obviously, the Trump administration doesn’t know what happens if Obamacare is repealed before a replacement is ready.

I’m one of those skeptics who would at least like a glimpse of the magic beans which will cut the cost of health care and provide more choices, even as people with pre-existing conditions are allowed to sign up at will, while healthy people don’t have to sign up ever. Because that would let people wait until they’re sick before buying insurance –- meaning insurance companies would have to start paying hospital claims immediately, making premiums cost thousands of dollars a week.

It’s true that by law a hospital still has to save your life even if you have no money, but then it would immediately sue you for payment. At which point your options would be one of the following: pay in cash, sell everything, or go bankrupt.

Although if you put it that way, I guess you would be getting more choices after all, wouldn’t you.

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