Rep. Underwood Issues Statement on Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 -- Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Illinois, issued the following statement on the 5th Circuit Court ruling on the lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act:

Republicans have voted over 70 times to try to repeal the law that guarantees coverage and access to essential care for people with pre-existing conditions, requires preventive services without out-of-pocket costs, expands Medicaid, bans junk insurance plans, and allows people up to the age of 26 to stay on their parents' health insurance. After failing dozens of votes, Republicans and the Administration are now attempting to use the courts to deny quality, affordable healthcare to Americans.

"Ever since the Affordable Care Act was passed, Republicans and now this Administration have worked themselves breathless trying to take healthcare away from millions of Americans. Despite today's ruling and the efforts of those trying to take us back to the days of people with pre-existing conditions not being able to get coverage, we will not let up. We need to work together to lower health insurance and prescription drug costs, expand access to mental health services, and improve the quality of healthcare. I am committed to doing everything in my power to protect healthcare for Illinoisans, and I won't let up."

If the ACA is struck down, the health and financial well-being of Illinois families will be devastated by the GOP's reckless health care assault:

- 5,471,600 Illinoisans who have pre-existing conditions and will lose their protections.

- 605,000 Illinoisans could lose their health care coverage.

- 91,000 Illinoisans under age 26 would lose the guarantee of remaining on their parents' insurance.

- 250,509 Illinoisans would lose tax credits to make coverage more affordable.

- 187,357 Illinois seniors could have to pay more for their prescription drugs.

- Illinoisans over age 50 would face a $4,597 "Age Tax" from health insurance companies.

While the Administration has worked to weaken the ACA, Underwood has championed several bills to strengthen our current system by reducing healthcare costs. In March, Underwood introduced the Health Care Affordability Act to reduce premiums for consumers who purchase plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Health Care Affordability Act (H.R. 1868) would expand tax credits to people who don't currently qualify for them because their income is higher than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, and would increase the size of the tax credit for all income brackets. In June, Underwood passed legislation as a part of the House appropriations package for Fiscal Year 2020 that would prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from spending federal funds on litigation that undermines the health care law, including Texas v. United States.

In May, legislation Underwood introduced to help protect Americans with pre-existing conditions passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, H.R. 1010, would overturn an Administration rule that expands short-term, limited-duration insurance, commonly known as "junk plans." The legislation followed action by the Administration that finalized a rule expanding short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans that do not have to offer patient protections like coverage for pre-existing conditions or essential health benefits like maternity care, prescription drugs, and hospitalization that the ACA requires.