Congresswoman Bustos Says GOP Health Care Plans Will “Make America Sick Again”

In House Floor Speech, Bustos Urged Republican Colleagues to Build on the Progress Made with the Affordable Care Act Rather than Repealing and Causing Chaos

WASHINGTON - Today on the House Floor, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted the many ways repealing the Affordable Care Act would undermine the health of Americans across our nation. As someone who spent a decade working in health care before, during and after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Bustos spoke from experience about how the Republican's repeal plan would put millions of Americans at risk and cause chaos for consumers, patients and hospitals.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Affordable Care Act has benefited:

* 196,727 Illinois seniors who saved $205 million on prescription drugs in 2015, an average of more than $1,041 per beneficiary.

* Up to 5,635,622 Illinoisans who can no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

* An estimated 91,000 young Illinoisans who have stayed on their parents plan up to age 26.

* 5,883,105 Illinoisans who can get free preventative care, including cancer screenings, flu shots, mammograms and contraception.

* An estimated 340,000 Illinoisans who've gained access to health care through Medicaid expansion.

* Illinois women who can no longer be charged more for basic care than men.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would roll back all of these important accomplishments.

Go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wdrrR_FtTY&feature=youtu.be to watch her remarks or see below for her remarks as prepared for delivery.

Mr. Speaker,

I spent ten years of my professional life in health care - before, during and after the Affordable Care Act was passed.

So let me tell you what a Republican repeal would mean.

It would mean raising prescription drug costs on Illinois seniors by more than $1,000 every year by reopening the Medicare Donuthole.

It would mean returning to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against women by charging them more than men for basic care.

It would mean telling diabetics, survivors of a heart attack or even babies with a birth defect - that they aren't qualified for health coverage because of their pre-existing condition.

And it would mean denying cancer patients lifesaving care after they've reached a lifetime limit on their insurance policy.

Republicans have talked about repeal for almost seven years, but they have no plan for replacement.

Again and again, we've heard that repealing Obamacare will "Make America Great Again."

It won't - it will "Make America Sick Again" by replacing affordable care with unaffordable chaos.

I urge my colleagues to do the right thing.

Work with us to build on the progress we've achieved.

Don't undermine the health of millions of Americans.

Read this original document at: https://bustos.house.gov/video-congresswoman-bustos-says-gop-health-care-plans-will-make-america-sick/