Rep. DelBene: GOP’s Bill Rips Healthcare from Millions, Increases Costs

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, March 6 -- Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today released the following statement on the Republican's bill, which strips healthcare from tens of millions who received coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and increases out-of-pocket costs for middle-class families:

"It's no wonder this bill was kept under lock and key until the very last second. Instead of building upon the reforms we've already made to expand coverage and reduce costs, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have put forward a bill that would raise out-of-pocket costs for middle-class families, gut benefits for seniors, allow insurance companies to discriminate against women and cut funding for Medicaid by more than $500 billion," DelBene said. "The lack of transparency in this process should concern every American. Making working families, seniors, children and people with disabilities foot the bill for this poorly conceived experiment is just wrong."

DelBene serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which will markup the GOP bill Wednesday - giving lawmakers just 24 hours to read the bill and interpret how it will affect constituents.

Since the ACA was implemented, the uninsured rate in Washington's First District has dropped from 11.1 percent to just 5.1 percent. If President Trump and congressional Republicans succeed in dismantling the ACA that progress could be lost, and 36,500 individuals stand to lose health insurance they received through Apple Health thanks to the ACA's Medicaid expansion.