Rep. Bustos Issue Statement on Oral Arguments Lawsuit to Strike Down Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Illinois, issued the following statement:

Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Washington Republicans' Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) highlighted the devastating impact the case could have on hardworking families in Illinois and across the country. The administration's dangerous lawsuit would eliminate the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without a replacement - including the law's patient protections for folks with pre-existing conditions, assistance for seniors with high drug costs, the ban on lifetime limits, bipartisan Medicaid expansion and the ability of individuals to stay on their parents' health insurance until the age of 26.

"Since I've been in Congress, I've worked diligently to improve the health care law and bring down costs for Illinois families," Congresswoman Bustos said. "Just this year, House Democrats have passed 10 bills to bring down the cost of health care and prescription drugs. But this partisan, reckless lawsuit would wreak havoc on the financial security of hardworking Illinoisans - forcing them to pay even more for less coverage and fewer patient protections. The administration should drop the lawsuit immediately and instead, work with both parties to find common ground."

Read more HERE (https://www.rrstar.com/opinion/20190604/my-view-us-house-works-to-bring-down-health-care-costs) about Congresswoman Bustos' work to bring down the cost of health care and prescription drugs.

In Illinois' 17th Congressional District, nearly 30,000 folks would lose their coverage if the Washington Republican lawsuit is successful - and across the state, more than 600,000 Illinoisans would lose health coverage altogether.

Additionally, by striking down the ACA in its entirety:

- Illinoisans over the age of 50 could face a more than $4,500 "Age Tax"

- 91,000 young adults with their parents' coverage could lose their care because, under the ACA, young adults are able to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26

- More than 5.4 million Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions like cancer, asthma and diabetes could be charged more for health care

- Nearly 190,000 Illinois seniors could have to pay more for prescription drugs

- More than 4.6 million Illinoisans could once again face annual and lifetime coverage limits

- Support for rural hospitals could vanish and threaten the livelihood of small communities, leaving Illinois hospitals with nearly $2 billion in uncompensated care

- More than 5.8 million Illinoisans could have to pay for preventative services like flu shots, cancer screenings and mammograms

- Illinois women could be charged more than men for the same coverage

- 700,000 Illinoisans enrolled through bipartisan Medicaid expansion could lose coverage