Press Release
Posted:
Washington – Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) voted against the Republicans’ American Health Care Act (AHCA), which repeals key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The bill was previously introduced in March, when the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated it would cost 24 million Americans their health coverage. Since then, Republicans added provisions to let insurers price people with pre-existing conditions out of the marketplace and allow states to bring back lifetime limits on care and gut essential health benefits like hospital stays, ambulance services, and prescription drug coverage. Republicans did not wait for the CBO to score the amended bill before rushing it to the floor.
“This was a terrible bill in March, and it is a worse bill today,” said Thompson. “We already knew it would leave millions of Americans out in the cold and cause healthcare costs to skyrocket. Now, Republicans want to break their promise to protect people with pre-existing conditions by allowing insurers to price them out of coverage. That’s not protection, it’s extortion. Americans deserve better. I’ve spoken with thousands of my constituents who overwhelming oppose this bill. Republicans ought to listen to the people they serve, not a President who wants to make good on a campaign slogan despite what it will cost hardworking men and women across the country.”
Earlier this week, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimated that healthcare costs across California’s 5thCongressional District would rise by an average of over $4,000 per year by 2020 for Covered California enrollees. Additionally, the AHCA would:
- Rob $75 billion from Medicare
- Cut funding for Planned Parenthood and prohibits people from using their tax credits for plans that cover reproductive health. Plans in California would not be eligible for a tax credit.
- Raise the average annual premium for a 60 year old to $17,500 per year.
The Republican repeal has been opposed by the AARP, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and numerous other patient advocacy groups.