Regarding the AHCA MacArthur Amendment

In a piece by Tami Luhby, CNN Updated 2:37 PM ET, Thu April 27, 2017 (http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/27/politics/macarthur-amendment-ama-aha-aarp-obamacare/). It states, "The so-called MacArthur amendment, authored by moderate Rep. Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, would let states allow insurers to offer less comprehensive policies and to charge people more based on their health status. It would also let insurers hike premiums for those in their 50s and early 60s.

Obamacare's protections for those with pre-existing conditions are among the law's most popular measures. Republicans say they are not eroding those provisions, but health care experts and lobbyists beg to differ.

"Although the MacArthur amendment states that the ban on pre-existing conditions remains intact, this assurance may be illusory as health status underwriting could effectively make coverage completely unaffordable to people with preexisting conditions," the AMA wrote in a letter Thursday to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

AARP slammed the amendment, saying it would put in place "backdoor cuts" to the protections and would create an "age tax."

"This harmful legislation still puts an Age Tax on older Americans and puts vulnerable populations at risk through a series of backdoor deals that attempts to shift responsibility to states," the influential lobbying group said in a statement Wednesday. "Older Americans need affordable health care services and prescriptions. This legislation still goes in the opposite direction, increasing insurance premiums for older Americans and not doing anything to lower drug costs."