ACA flawed, but GOP is to blame

In a recent letter, Mike Simon asked why members of Congress do not participate in the Affordable Care Act.

In fact, all members of Congress and their staffs must obtain healthcare coverage through the ACA online exchange. This is because of an ill-advised amendment introduced by Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa that became part of the ACA.

Previously, members of Congress and their staffs were covered by the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, a model of efficiency among employer-sponsored health care plans.

Mr. Simon also states the ACA has provided health insurance for less than five percent of Americans. While the level of coverage is undoubtedly greater than five percent, the ACA was never intended to provide healthcare coverage for all Americans. It was intended to benefit those Americans who do not receive coverage through employment or Medicare.

There is no doubt the ACA is flawed but this is mainly due to opposition by Republicans in Congress to enacting an efficient universal healthcare system. This has left the United States as the only major developed nation without universal health care. For shame.

Larry Bahr

Elgin