Rep. Wilson Issues on House Republicans’ Efforts to Repeal, Replace Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON, March 25 -- Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla., issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement on House Republicans' efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act:

"It is no coincidence that on the seventh anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, House Republicans hoped to hold a vote to repeal and replace it. Hope is the operative word here because after seven years of promising to repeal and replace Obamacare, the GOP failed to whip together a bill that could win the 215 yeas from its own caucus that are needed to pass it and was forced to postpone the vote.

"This is not surprising when symbolism is prioritized over substance. In addition to making minute-by-minute changes to an already hastily prepared bill, House leadership has not had it scored by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, so the proposed legislation's monetary cost is as big a mystery as its contents.

The price that the 24 million Americans who stand to lose their coverage would pay if the American Health Care Act becomes law, however, is indisputable. Premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs will rise. Americans aged 50-64 will pay premiums that are five times higher than what others will pay even if they are in good health.

"Planned Parenthood will be defunded, which will lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies and the transmission of STDs. Low-income women will be particularly harmed by this because they will lose access to critical services like breast exams, cancer screenings and birth control. The legislation also gives nearly $900 billion in tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy, paid for in part by $175 billion from the Medicare Trust Fund. This is not only inexcusable, but also manifestly wrong.

"Under the American Health Care Act, 277,600 individuals in District 24 whose health insurance covers preventive services like potentially life-saving cancer screenings and flu shots without co-pays or deductibles could lose that access. Nearly 300,000 people who have employer-sponsored insurance plans are at risk of losing key consumer protections like the prohibition on annual and lifetime limits that have in the past financially ruined so many individuals and families. In addition, the 91,500 district residents who in 2016 received financial assistance to purchase plans through the health insurance exchange could see their coverage become unaffordable.

"As even former President Barack Obama and many Democratic lawmakers will concede, the Affordable Care Act is imperfect, but we are willing to work with our colleagues across the aisle to improve it so that even more Americans will have access to quality insurance plans that they can actually afford.

"I was not yet a member of Congress during the fight to pass the Affordable Care Act, but I am more than ready for the battle to strengthen and preserve it."

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