CBO Estimates Repeal of Health Reform Would Add $210B to U.S. Deficit

Repealing the federal health reform law would increase federal budget deficits by $210 billion between 2012 and 2021, according to an updated estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, Reuters reports (Heavey, Reuters, 2/18).

Last month, CBO released a preliminary analysis that found repealing the overhaul would increase the federal deficit by $230 billion by 2021 and would leave 32 million more U.S. residents uninsured (California Healthline, 1/7).

On Friday, CBO estimated that the overhaul would save the federal government $124 billion between 2010 and 2019. The agency reports that during the eight years the two estimates overlap -- 2012 to 2019 -- implementing the law would save the government $132 billion, and repealing it would increase the deficit by $119 billion.

CBO's updated estimate said that repealing the health reform law would result in eliminating several overhaul provisions that would reduce federal health care costs and other revenue-generating taxes and fees (Reuters, 2/18).