Protect Our Care: Republicans' Budget Plan Drafted By Russ Vought Would Rip Coverage From 20 Million Americans And Raise Premiums For Nearly 15 Million More

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNStalk) -- Protect Our Care issued the following statement on Feb. 23, 2023:

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This week, news reports have indicated that Republican lawmakers have been leaning on Trump's Office of Management and Budget Director, Russ Vought, as they navigate debt ceiling negotiations. Vought's plan includes massive cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), undermining protections for pre-existing conditions, eliminating premium tax credits that make coverage affordable for nearly 15 million Americans, and repealing Medicaid expansion, which covers 20 million people. These cuts would be disastrous for the American people, disproportionately impacting children, rural Americans, and people of color. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement.

"As Republicans hold our economy hostage, they are returning to some of their greatest hits: attacking American health care. Behind closed doors, they are relying on a far-right Trump appointee to draft their budget. Vought's plan would effectively repeal the ACA, driving up costs for almost 15 million Americans and eliminating coverage altogether for more than 20 million people. Vought is also advocating for removing vital protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions by sending us back to the days when insurance companies could write the rules and deny coverage or charge more for people with pre-existing conditions. Make no mistake, Republican threats to health care are as real as ever, and we cannot let them get away with it."

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BACKGROUND

Trump's Budget Director Russ Vought Is Working With Republicans To Slash Billions Of Dollars From Medicaid And The Affordable Care Act. Former Trump OMB Director Russ Vought now leads an influential think tank known as the Center for Renewing America where he has "quietly emerged as an intellectual leader of the GOP's conservative flank" according to the Washington Post. Vought is in close contact with Republicans on Capitol Hill, briefing members of Congress at least three times about his budget plan and speaking to key lawmakers and staffers "at least once a week."

The Vought Plan Would Rip Medicaid Away From More Than 20 Million Americans. The Vought budget "repeals the authorizations created by Obamacare that permit states to expand their Medicaid programs." The ACA's expansion of Medicaid covers more than 21 million people who would have their care ripped away if Republicans were to enact this plan.

The Vought Plan Raises Premiums For More Than 10 Million Americans. The Vought budget would fully repeal the Affordable Care Act's tax credits that help millions of Americans afford quality health insurance. A record 16.3 million Americans signed up for coverage through the ACA marketplace this year, and with 80 percent of enrollees eligible for tax credits, over 13 million people could see their premiums soar if the Vought plan were enacted.

The Vought Plan Puts Coverage For Tens Of Millions Of Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions At Risk. Vought's plan lambastes the Affordable Care Act for providing "some subsidies to some people, only if they choose to purchase insurance the government defines in the way the government demands." Removing the consumer protections enacted by the ACA would put insurance companies back in charge of your care and end protections for 54 million Americans with 'declinable' pre-existing conditions.

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Original text here: https://www.protectourcare.org/republicans-budget-plan-drafted-by-russ-vought-would-rip-coverage-from-20-million-americans-and-raise-premiums-for-nearly-15-million-more/