Larson Calls on Trump Administration & GOP to Stop Sabotaging Americans’ Healthcare

July 20, 2018

Contact: Owen Dodd 202-870-7670

Larson Calls on Trump Administration & GOP to Stop Sabotaging Americans' Healthcare

Washington DC - Today, Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) issued the following statement in response to the proposed health insurance rate increases for 2019, currently being reviewed by the Connecticut Insurance Department.

"Congressional Republicans could not gain the support to repeal and replace Americans' right to affordable, accessible health care so they have chosen to systematically sabotage the health care system instead. The proposed health insurance rate hikes announced today in Connecticut are a direct result of the GOP attacks. The Trump Administration has also been aggressively promoting the sale of short-term junk insurance plans and attacking protections for people with pre-existing conditions. This is unacceptable."

"Rather than attacking people's access to care, Republicans should bring solutions to the table and work across the aisle to make seeing a doctor and paying for your medications more accessible and affordable. That is why my colleagues, Reps. Courtney and Higgins, and I have introduced the Medicare Buy-In & Health Care Stabilization Act to allow those who are 50-64 years old to buy into Medicare, providing those individuals with an affordable, high-quality insurance option. Importantly, a solution like Medicare Buy-In could also help lower premiums across the marketplace, including in Connecticut, by leaving a younger, healthier risk pool on the exchanges. I urge my Republican colleagues to stop their sabotage and instead work with us to reduce the financial burden of health care for Americans", said Larson.

The proposed rate increases for an individual policy is 12.3 percent and the increase for a small group rate is averaged to be 10.22 percent. The Connecticut Insurance Department attributed the increase to "ongoing uncertainty in Washington that threatens to destabilize the health insurance markets, particularly for individuals."