Rep. Larsen Issues Statement on Higher Premiums in Washington

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington, issued the following statement on Washington insurance companies' proposed premium increases for 2019:

"Washington state leads nationwide in expanding access for high quality, comprehensive health insurance. Actions by the administration and some of my colleagues in Congress to undermine the Affordable Care Act and Washington state's efforts in making sure health care is affordable are unacceptable. Washingtonians should not be forced to pay more for health care because of bad policies pushed by this administration.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to help Washington state's most vulnerable communities by implementing A Better Deal on health care, which includes protecting Medicare and Medicaid.

"I will also prioritize increased access and lower costs of health care, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drugs prices and demanding full transparency of excessive drug price increases."