Senators On Obamacare: ‘We Simply Can’t Ignore Another Warning Sign’

SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Contact: Antonia Ferrier 202.228.NEWS

Senators On Obamacare: 'We Simply Can't Ignore Another Warning Sign'

'The Bottom Line Is Obamacare Has Failed, And It Is Up To Us To Provide Some Relief'

'The Obamacare Market Is "In The Early Stages Of A Death Spiral"'

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL (R-KY): "Obamacare is failing the American people, and it keeps getting worse. Families face skyrocketing premiums, fewer choices, and the risk of losing the doctors or plans they like. Just this week, we saw even more troubling news out of states like Maryland, where one major insurer just proposed a premium increase of more than 50%, warning that the Obamacare market is 'in the early stages of a death spiral.'" (Sen. McConnell, Press Release, 5/10/2017) [https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/remarks/democrats-admit-obamacare-is-failing]

* SEN. McCONNELL: "Moreover... over 40 percent of counties could have just a single insurer to choose from on the exchanges next year. It's troubling news, especially given that so many states, like mine, have already experienced insurers fleeing the Obamacare marketplace leaving families with limited options. This year, Kentuckians in 49% of our counties... have only one insurer to choose from. And of course, having only one option is really no choice at all.... The status quo under Obamacare is simply unsustainable and unacceptable. That's why the entire Senate Republican Conference is working together on the best way forward to bring much-needed relief to the families who've been left behind by Obamacare's continuing failures." (Sen. McConnell, Pres Release, 5/16/2017) [https://www.republicanleader.senate.gov/newsroom/remarks/as-obamacare-crumbles-americans-are-left-to-pick-up-the-pieces]

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX): "Instead of having more access to more health insurance options, Texans--the people I represent--have less of both. The bottom line is ObamaCare has failed, and it is up to us to provide some relief to the people who are being hurt by the failure of ObamaCare." (Sen. Cornyn, Congressional Record, S. 2870, 5/10/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/10/senate-section/article/S2853-1]

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): "[A]s the past 7 years have made clear, ObamaCare was not the answer, and this law is rapidly collapsing under its own weight. Here is a sampling of recent ObamaCare headlines.This is from Bloomberg: 'Thousands of ObamaCare Customers Left Without Options as Insurers Bolt.' This is from CNBC: 'Aetna will exit ObamaCare markets in Virginia in 2018, citing expected losses on individual plans this year.' From the Arizona Republic: 'Consumers seek relief as "ObamaCare" rates rise.' From USA TODAY: 'Iowa may be without individual health plans if insurer pulls out.'" (Sen. Thune, Congressional Record, S. 2815, 5/08/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/08/senate-section/article/S2815-3]

SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R-WY): "[A]s a physician, I want to rescue those people who have been harmed so much by the crumbling of the Obama health care where there weren't any opportunities for them to even buy insurance.... In Wyoming, we're down to one carrier, we had two, the one that was the lower price, ended up losing enough money that they were out of business. The one that is the higher priced, still in business, but they lost money last year, so we don't know how long it's going to be that we will have those opportunities. The Democrats and President Obama, caused this problem, they're trying to pass the buck now. We're trying to pass a bill to make life better for the American people." (Sen. Barrasso, Press Conference, 5/09/2017)

SEN. ROY BLUNT (R-MO): "[W]e have 115 counties in Missouri, 97 of them only have one provider. In many of those counties, insurance went up as much as 40 percent.... [A]s [former] President Clinton said last year... price keeps going up, the coverage keeps going down. How is that a system that you can sustain"... This is a failing system and we're committed to do something, and that's the purpose of efforts over the next few weeks." (Sen. Blunt, Pres Conference, 5/09/2017)

SEN. CORY GARDNER (R-CO): "The American people have realized that the Affordable Care Act is collapsing. The people of Colorado have been suffering under its consequences.... 80 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, in the Western Slope of Colorado, the mountains, we've seen some of the highest health care costs increases in the nation.... You would think instead of celebrating the difficulties of trying to pass a health care bill, the Democrats and others opposed to trying to replace the Affordable Care Act, would actually work with us on trying to find a policy solution that will work for the American people." (Sen. Gardner, Press Conference, 5/09/2017)

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA): "[Iowa] has been hit particularly hard by insurers pulling out of the individual market. In 2016, UnitedHealth Group announced it would leave Iowa the following year. Last month, Aetna and Wellmark announced they would be pulling out of the individual market in Iowa. This leaves 94 of our 99 counties in Iowa with one choice for health insurance on the individual market." (Sen. Grassley, Congressional Record, S. 2926, 5/15/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/15/senate-section/article/S2924-6]

* SEN. GRASSLEY: "If Congress doesn't act, the individual market may come crashing down... We simply can't ignore another warning sign. Healthier, younger people are choosing the off-ramp. The toll to join ObamaCare is turning out to be unaffordable for them. ObamaCare is unsustainable." (Sen. Grassley, Congressional Record, S. 2926, 5/15/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/15/senate-section/article/S2924-6]

SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER (R-TN): "As every day goes by, we hear and we are going to continue to hear about insurance companies pulling out of counties and States.... That is what is happening right now because of the 2010 law that we call the Affordable Care Act.... In 2016, last year, 7 percent of counties in the United States had just one insurer offering plans on their Affordable Care Act exchanges. This year, 2017, that number jumped to 32 percent.... Five entire States have only one insurer offering ACA plans in their entire State this year: Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming. That is because of the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010." (Sen. Alexander, Congressional Record, S. 2672, 5/04/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/04/senate-section/article/S2761-2]

* SEN. ALEXANDER: "We will move ahead with deliberate speed. We are doing that because the exchanges are collapsing, people could be without insurance, and premiums will go up if we don't act, but we want to get it right.... We will carefully consider the legislation passed by the House. We will work together carefully to write our own bill." (Sen. Alexander, Congressional Record, S. 2672, 5/04/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/04/senate-section/article/S2761-2]

SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): "The reality is that middle-class America can no longer afford the now-ironically named Affordable Care Act." (Sen. Cassidy, Congressional Record, S. 2830, 5/09/2017) [https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/2017/05/09/senate-section/article/S2830-1]

SEN. DEB FISCHER (R-NE): "Today's news on Aetna means fewer choices and likely higher costs for families across Nebraska. It's further proof that Obamacare is simply unsustainable. It also underscores the importance of Congress continuing its work to ensure all Americans can access the compassionate, patient-centered, and affordable health care they deserve." (Sen. Fischer, Press Release, 5/10/2017) [https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news'ID=DFD573C7-9786-4A2E-8E0E-0B11CA1A9851]

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