Rep. Cuellar Marks 10th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Calls on Trump Administration to End Lawsuit

LAREDO, Texas, March 25 -- Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, issued the following news release on March 24:

On the 10th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congressman Henry Cuellar called on the Trump Administration to end its Texas v. U.S. lawsuit, which would strike down the entirety of the ACA as well as pre-existing condition protections for 130 million Americans, including 4,794,000 Texans, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"For a decade, I have stood strong for the health and financial security of hard-working families by voting for and working to strengthen the Affordable Care Act," said Congressman Cuellar. "As our nation faces the unprecedented coronavirus crisis, there has been continued effort to eliminate the lifesaving protections of the ACA poses a devastating threat to the people of Texas and all Americans. At this time of uncertainty, every American in every community must be sure that they will receive the critical medical care that they and their families need to stay healthy and safe."

"On day one of this Congress, I have worked to protect and strengthen Americans' health care," continued Congressman Cuellar. "Now, during the coronavirus pandemic, I am using every tool and resource available to safeguard and expand the ACA's vital protections to put families first. Today, and every day, I will uphold the bedrock promise that health care is right, not a privilege."

Since becoming law in 2010, the ACA has become a pillar of health and economic stability for millions of Americans. The ACA protects 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, lowers prescription drug costs for 12 million Medicare beneficiaries, and reduces the uninsured population by 20 million people - a 65 percent increase in the insured rate. If the Trump Administration's lawsuit is successful in gutting the ACA, Texas families would face staggering consequences:

* Uninsured Rate will Increase: Texas residents will lose expanded health insurance coverage through the ACA, leading to 1.7 million more Texas residents becoming uninsured - a 37% increase in the state uninsured rate.

* Federal Health Care Funding will Decrease: Texas will lose $6.5 billion in critical federal funding that pays for Medicaid/CHIP care and Marketplace subsidies, harming millions of Texians. In TX-28, there are 5 community health centers, serving 147,172 patients every year, which would also be at risk if the ACA were repealed.

* Pre-Existing Conditions will be Gutted: About 4,794,000, or 28%, of Texas residents will face increased costs or be denied coverage for their pre-existing conditions.

* Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors will Increase: Prescription drug costs will increase for the 12 million Medicare beneficiaries nationwide who have saved on prescription drugs due to the ACA's closure of Medicare Part D donut hole.