Rep. Maloney Warns ACA Repeal Will Raise Drug Costs for Seniors While Cutting Care

NEW YORK, NY - Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) today met with seniors and Upper East Siders for Change at Stein Senior Center, to warn about how repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will raise drug costs while cutting healthcare for this demographic. The Congresswoman vowed to continue fighting Republican attempts to repeal the ACA without a viable replacement plan.

"The Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a real replacement is dangerous, plain and simple," said Rep. Maloney. "Repeal is a threat to our economy, our children, and our seniors. Until we passed the ACA our seniors couldn't afford the care they need, and we were going to run out of funding for Medicare this year. Seniors were forced to make difficult choices, like whether to buy lifesaving medication or groceries. Thanks to the ACA our healthcare is better, more accessible, and actually affordable for seniors. If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, seniors will again be put into an impossible decision, as a rise in drug costs will certainly be swift. With Social Security COLAs at or near zero percent over the last few years, the situation is even more precarious. That is why I will continue to fight against Republican efforts to repeal the ACA and cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security."

BACKGROUND:

* Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010:

* Nearly 12 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved $26 billion on prescription drug costs

* The Medicare Trust Fund was extended from 2017 to 2030 due to savings from new efficiencies enacted by the law.

* New York's seniors and people with disabilities have saved more than $1.6 billion on prescription drugs

* New Yorkers who fell into what we call the Medicare donut hole saved an average of $1,195

* During 2016, 40 million Medicare beneficiaries, including 2,440,280 New Yorkers received preventive care, for free!

* More than 20 million more Americans now have health insurance.

* The cost of health care is increasing at the lowest rate in over 50 years

Read this original document at: http://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-maloney-warns-aca-repeal-will-raise-drug-costs-for-seniors-while-1