Raja Speaks Out Against Trump Administration’s Threatening To Make Health Insurance Unaffordable For 7 Million

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., issued the following news release:

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, lead Democrat on the Subcommittee on Healthcare, Benefits and Administrative Rules, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's threats to imperil health care affordability for 7 million Americans through eliminating crucial subsidies:

"President Trump is using the ability of millions of Americans to afford health insurance as a bargaining chip. As part of his attempt to force the Republican health care bill through Congress, the President is threatening to eliminate key subsidies allowing 7 million Americans to afford their health insurance. Slashing these subsidies would lead to a 19 percent surge in premiums and force taxpayers to spend billions more to cover the cost.

The Administration knows eliminating these subsidies would be a health care disaster for our country. If the President goes through with this plan, he'll be responsible for millions of Americans losing their health insurance.

Our health care system faces serious challenges and making insurance more expensive for millions of Americans will only make those challenges more daunting. Instead, we need to pursue real strategies for reducing costs and improving health care such as reducing the cost of prescription drugs, establishing a public option, and allowing older Americans to buy into Medicare early."