Rep. Curbelo Highlights Constituent’s Struggles with ACA at First Ways & Means Hearing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., issued the following news release:

Today, Representative Carlos Curbelo (FL-26) highlighted a Monroe County constituent's struggles with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at a Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight hearing examining the effectiveness of the individual mandate under ACA.

Curbelo asked experts whether stories like this were isolated or happening all over the country (0:53), whether healthcare special interests were too influential in the drafting of ACA (2:43), and what are alternatives to the individual mandate for encouraging Americans to buy healthcare coverage (3:07).

A transcript of Curbelo's opening remarks is below. A video of the full exchange is available here, and a broadcast quality video to download is available here.

U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo

Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight Hearing

Washington, D.C.

January 24, 2017

https://youtu.be/9nK7dV9-cYk

Representative Carlos Curbelo: "Mr. Chairman, although enrollment in the ACA is relatively high in Florida, particularly in the Miami-Dade metropolitan area, choices continue to decrease and premiums continue to rise. This year, the counties in my district have lost insurance carriers. Monroe County lost one carrier and Miami-Dade lost two carriers, participating on the exchange.

"I have heard from people in my district about how the current system has reduced their choices and increased their out-of-pocket costs. Emilie, my constituent, explained that she is paying over $700 per month for a plan with a deductible that is over $6000, but still she has been unable to find a doctor in her area who will accept her insurance. Even though she has insurance, her options are severely limited and premiums continue to increase."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9nK7dV9-cYk

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