Rep. DelBene Releases Report on Local Consequences of Repealing Healthcare Law

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today released a congressional report on the devastating effects repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have on Washington's First District.

Since the ACA was implemented, the uninsured rate in the 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 more than 465,000 First District constituents with employer-sponsored health insurance could lose consumer protections such as the prohibition on lifetime limits and coverage of preexisting conditions.

"My constituents don't want our country to return to a time when people went bankrupt because they got sick or when insurance companies could deny coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions," DelBene said. "It's undeniable that millions of Americans - including thousands in my district - have benefited from the Affordable Care Act. Republicans should think twice before eliminating these vital, life-saving reforms with no viable plan for what comes next."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee drafted the report.

Key findings from the First District include:

* 421,100 individuals stand to lose health insurance that covers preventive services such as cancer screenings, annual exams and immunizations without co-pays.

* 465,400 individuals with employer-provided health coverage stand to lose important consumer protections such as prohibitions on lifetime limits, threatening access to needed medical care for those who face catastrophic health events.

* 17,700 individuals have purchased affordable, quality health plans through the Washington Healthplanfinder.

* 12,400 individuals received financial assistance with plans purchased through the Washington Healthplanfinder, lowering out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays and deductibles.

* 36,500 individuals receive coverage through Apple Health thanks to the ACA's Medicaid expansion.

More details on how Washington's other districts would be affected can be found HERE (http://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/ACA%20District-by-District%20Report%2003022017.pdf).

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