RECAP: IOWANS CALL OUT ASHLEY HINSON ON 61ST ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICAID FOR SENDING HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS SKYROCKETING AND FORCING HEALTHCARE CLINICS TO CLOSE

The following information was released by the Iowa Democratic Party:

A Recent Report Showed that Hinson's Votes Are Increasing Healthcare Costs for a Second Year in a Row

Hinson Also Voted for the Biggest Cuts to Medicaid in History, Which Threatens to Kick Over 110,000 Iowans Off Their Healthcare and is Forcing Healthcare Clinics in Iowa to Close

DES MOINES Today, local Sioux City leaders and Iowans experiencing higher health insurance premiums and diminished healthcare came together to mark the 61st anniversary of Medicaid being signed into law by calling out Ashley Hinson for making healthcare more expensive and inaccessible for Iowans.

"We are here today, the 61st anniversary of Medicaid being signed into law, because this day is a day to remember that Ashley Hinson is making healthcare more expensive and inaccessible for thousands of Iowans across our state," said Dave Dawson, IA-04 congressional candidate. "Congresswoman Hinson, along with Iowa's other congressional Republicans, voted last year to cut $1 trillion in healthcare funding, which is one of the many reasons I decided to run for Congress. [] Ashley Hinson is forcing Iowans to make gut-wrenching decisions about their health care. Many are driving further for care, considering dropping their health insurance coverage altogether, or choosing to make painful cuts in their budgets so they can continue to afford to see a doctor. [] Iowans can't afford Ashley."

"I didn't have a choice of what I would have for coverage. Medicaid is the only option that's able to provide the essential health care that I need to get out of bed in the morning and go to bed at night," said Alex Watters, former Sioux City councilman and community advocate who relies on Medicaid. "In addition to the possibility of one hundred thousand Iowans losing their health care coverage, we now have skyrocketing premiums. As if increasing costs on our groceries, our energy, and everything else wasn't enough. Now, we have increasing and skyrocketing healthcare premiums because of [Hinson's] vote to stop bipartisan legislation."

"Even as a working person working one, two, sometimes three jobs, I couldn't afford regular health insurance because the premiums were just too high. Medicaid has been a saving grace for me," said Garie Lewis, a Sioux City resident who gets healthcare through Medicaid. "There are Iowans and Americans all over that are in fear of losing what medical coverage they've got because of the cuts with Ashley Hinson. I can't afford Ashley Hinson. Millions of Iowans can't afford Ashley Hinson. The entire state of Iowa can't afford Ashley Hinson."

Ashley Hinson is Making Healthcare More Unaffordable and Inaccessible in Iowa:

Ashley Hinson voted against a bipartisan effort to extend ACA tax credits to stop health care costs from skyrocketing.

Her vote is expected to kick 24,000 Iowans off their health insurance and an estimated 117,890 have seen their insurance costs increase by 97% an average of $1,080.

Thousands of Iowans could see their health insurance premiums increase dramatically for the "second straight year."

Iowans with these plans will see average health insurance costs increase by up to 16.84%.

"Nearly one-fifth of Iowans with ACA plans dropped their coverage" since the tax credits expired.

Hinson has long wreaked havoc on our healthcare system. She said she was "proud" of her vote for the biggest cuts to Medicaid in history, which threatens to kick over 110,000 Iowans off their health care.

At the same time, Hinson gave a $121 billion tax cut to the richest 1%, after voting against legislation capping prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year and insulin at $35 a month.

She supported a plan to convert Medicare to a "premium support model," which would "end Medicare as we know it" by making it compete with private plans.

Hinson is desperately trying to downplay the number of health facility closures in Iowa.

Since Hinson has been in Congress, 842 healthcare facilities have closed across the state of Iowa.

That includes "two hospitals, a critical access hospital, 11 rural health clinics, 46 nursing homes, 28 residential care facilities, 16 hospice facilities, and three ambulatory surgical centers."