Rep. Hoyer Discusses Republican Efforts to Repeal the Affordable Care on NewsChannel 8

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md. (5th CD), issued the following news release:

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) discussed Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering a real replacement plan on NewsChannel 8's "NewsTalk" this morning. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video.

Click here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcHdO9eypjY&feature=youtu.be) to watch his comments on WJLA NewsChannel 8.

"The fact of the matter is, it was easy to say for a long period of time - as Republicans have done - the Affordable Care Act is not good, we are going to repeal it, and they offered 64, 65 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act. They are a little bit like the dog who now has caught the car. They think they have the ability to do that and again. The consequences of doing that have been made clear. And the American people have now said you know, we aren't sure that's what we wanted at all."

"...The American people now are really looking at what the Affordable Care Act has done for them, has done for their parents, done for their neighbors, done for friends they know. And they are seeing that if you repeal the Affordable Care Act, you are going to put at risk not only those who have participated in the marketplace formed by the Affordable Care Act, but all people who have insurance. The probability is that all insurance premiums will go up."

"It also puts at risk the fact that if you have a pre-existing condition, that's ok, you can still get insurance. It puts at risk 26-year-olds and less being able to stay on their parents' policy. It puts at risk the prohibition on annual limits or lifetime limits so that so many families have gone bankrupt in the past because their health care costs overwhelmed them. It puts at risk the ability to oversee health insurance companies and make sure the premium dollars are going to health care, and to their health care. So, there are an awful lot of things that the Affordable Care Act does that people like and want to keep. Seniors in particular have seen both their preventive visits, preventive health care, not have a co-pay, so it didn't discourage them from getting preventive care which would save us money in the long run, and save them money in the long run. In addition, their prescription drug prices have been substantially reduced by the Affordable Care Act."

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