Democrats say budget plan would mean loss of health insurance

Democrats representing Arizona in Congress are pointing to a new report as proof that people would lose health insurance under a reconciliation budget package from Republicans.

The Joint Economic Committee Minority said 300,679 Arizonans would lose coverage under the plan. Of them, 190,993 are on Medicaid. And 109,686 would lose coverage under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. The JEC Minority used an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office in its research.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, said he has heard from families around the state who are already stretched thin and worried about losing the coverage they depend on for medical care.

"Now Republicans are pushing a plan that confirms their worst fears — stripping health care away from the people who need it most like kids, seniors and working parents," Kelly said in a news release.

U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, gave a similar warning, adding these cuts would "force rural hospitals to shut down, push more people into overcrowded emergency rooms, and pass down costs to every Arizonan" while benefiting what Gallego called President Trump's billionaire friends.

Both Gallego and Kelly vowed to continue fighting for affordable health coverage.

They are not alone.

U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Ansari, Arizona's two Democratic members of the House, have pledged to be part of the fight.

"Republican cuts to Medicaid aren't just some number on a spreadsheet," said Stanton in the press release.

Ansari said it would be "unconscionable" to strip away health coverage from over 300,000 Arizonans.

"The GOP proposal would cause devastating impacts in our most vulnerable communities, pushing families to the brink and putting lives at risk," said Ansari.

The reconciliation package from Republicans calls for things such as a work requirement for able-bodied adults with no dependents. The GOP also wants more frequent eligibility checks for enrollees.

The stated purpose from Republicans is to combat waste, fraud and abuse.

However, Democrats warn these policies would create administrative burdens and lead to widespread coverage losses.

And one of the Republicans representing Arizona in Congress is on record saying he will not support anything that reduces Medicaid benefits for people the program is meant to held. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani identified those people in a May 2 letter to Republican leadership as "the working poor, individuals with disabilities, single mothers and the elderly" of Arizona.

"While I support targeted reforms to fix flaws in the program, improve the delivery of care, and reduce the rate of improper payments, I cannot, and will not, support any legislation that reduces Medicaid benefits for vulnerable populations," wrote Ciscomani and 12 of his Republican colleagues from various states.

President Trump told Republicans Tuesday not to mess around with Medicaid. The advisory follows a White House Fact Sheet on March 11 that said, "the Trump administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare and or Medicaid benefits."