Thursday, May 4, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives today passed the American Health Care Act, a bill that would eliminate protections for those with preexisting conditions and older consumers, gut coverage requirements by eliminating essential health benefits, cripple Medicaid, and ultimately lead to 24 million fewer insured Americans.
Elizabeth Imholz, Special Projects Director for Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports, said, “The House of Representatives today failed their constituents and the American health system by passing the American Health Care Act. In a field where ‘do no harm’ is the standard, this bill does nothing but harm American families. Taking insurance away from 24 million people, devastating Medicaid, rolling back protections for preexisting conditions and older consumers, increasing out-of-pocket costs, encouraging junk insurance plans without any meaningful coverage, and even allowing the elimination of out-of-pocket cost caps and reinstating lifetime limits for the nearly half of all Americans who get their coverage through their employers — these are the real consequences of the AHCA. Each iteration has only made this bad bill worse.
“There is a reason that hospitals, leading medical associations, senior groups, and public interest groups all oppose this bill — it simply doesn’t work. We implore the Senate to stand up for their constituents and stop this dangerous legislation from moving forward.”
Consumers Union is urging consumers to call their Senators at (855) 977-1770 and tell them to oppose the American Health Care Act.
Please note: Consumers Union can connect reporters with consumers whose coverage would change due to the AHCA. Please contact Kara Kelber for more information.