AARP Issues Statement on 'Skinny' Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- AARP issued the following statement by Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond:

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As the Senate plans to vote on the so-called "skinny" health care repeal bill, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond sent a letter to all 100 U.S. Senators opposing the bill and released the following statement:

"AARP objects to the so-called 'skinny' bill that, like all of the other health care repeal bills introduced so far, would leave millions of Americans uninsured, destabilize the health insurance market, and lead to spikes in the cost of premiums.

"The independent Congressional Budget Office confirms that the provisions of the reported 'skinny' bill would cause 16 million Americans to lose their health coverage, including 4 million Americans who would lose their employer-sponsored health insurance. It is unconscionable that rather than address issues of cost and coverage, millions of Americans would lose their coverage and see huge premium increases.

"AARP will continue fighting to stop Congress from passing any bill that increases costs, imposes an Age Tax, strips coverage from people, cuts Medicare, and cuts the Medicaid services seniors need to stay in their homes.

"AARP urges all Senators to vote 'NO' on this bill and again calls on Congress to work together in a bipartisan manner to strengthen and improve our health care system, not make it worse. We need solutions that provide strong insurance markets protections, control costs, improve health care quality, and provide affordable coverage to all Americans."