On June 22, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Republican House members released their official proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act. The proposal is the first comprehensive plan floated by congressional Republicans since the passage of the ACA in 2010. The House GOP's proposal includes bold promises to reduce premiums by double digits, to save Medicare and to create sweeping savings across the health care system. However, the plan does not go into great detail on a number of issues, including price, time frame or implementation. The plan, which is not in the form of legislation, would:

• Repeal the Affordable Care Act;
• Gradually raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67;
• Cap the tax deductibility of employer-based health care plans;
• Create a refundable tax credit for Americans who don't receive employer-provided insurance;
• Expand the use of health savings accounts;
• Transform Medicaid into state block grant or per-capita allotment program; and
• Move Medicare toward a "premium support" model where seniors would choose a private health plan.

Democrats immediately decried the proposal. White House spokeswoman Katie Hill called it "nothing more than vague and recycled ideas to take health insurance away from millions and increase costs for seniors and hardworking families."

Takeaway: It is unlikely that the proposal will gain traction this year. But if Republicans are able to gain control of the White House and maintain control of the House and Senate, look for the proposal to provide an outline for Republican health care legislation. In the meantime, the proposal provides Republican candidates with a proposal around which to frame their health care goals during the fall campaign, complementing the longstanding Republican promise to "Repeal and Replace" the Affordable Care Act.