U.S. REPS. CASTOR AND SUOZZI INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO LOWER COSTS FOR FAMILIES BY REPEALING RULE THAT INCREASES PREMIUMS FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

The following information was released by the office of Florida Rep. Kathy Castor:

Today, U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03) introduced a bicameral resolution to repeal the Trump Administration's rule that will increase the cost of health care for hardworking Americans, sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage, kick up to two million Americans off their health coverage, and make it easier for insurance companies to cover fewer services.

"Families need affordable health coverage, not more economic pain by ripping health care away. The recent rule change to the ACA would make life more expensive by increasing out-of-pocket costs, ripping two million Americans' health coverage away, and creating more obstacles to coverage and care," said Rep. Castor. "This resolution will ensure that this predatory rule change does not go into effect. Everyone deserves affordable health care coverage not just the wealthy and well-connected."

"Healthcare costs are already too high, and millions have already lost their health insurance due to the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits at the end of last year," said Rep. Suozzi. "The latest ACA rule would only make things worse, increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients and decreasing the quality of their coverage. This rule risks even more Americans losing their health insurance, and we cannot let that happen."

The rule promotes the use of catastrophic health plans with extremely high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, loosens physician network requirements for plans, and proposes that insurers be allowed to offer "non-network" plans that may not cover the cost of care. This would make it easier for insurers to raise out-of-pocket costs, sell new kinds of junk insurance coverage, increase working families' deductibles, cover fewer services and kick more providers out of network.

At a time when Americans are already struggling to afford health care thanks to the deeply unpopular policies of President Trump and congressional Republicans, this rule will make it even harder for consumers to get the coverage and find the doctors they need.

The result would be worse coverage at higher costs, including:

Terminate Coverage for 2M: According to CMS estimates, the rule would reduce enrollment in ACA plans by up to 2 million.

Raise Costs: Insurance would become more unaffordable. For example, some bronze plans would have maximum out-of-pocket costs of $15,600 for an individual per year or $31,200 for a working family per year in 2027.

Reduce Benefits: Benefits may be reduced in many states meaning Americans could lose access to coverage for substance use disorder treatment, hearing aids, or other critical services, as well as adult dental.

Increase Red Tape: Paperwork burden would increase on 4.7 million Americans, making it more difficult for them to get the coverage they deserve and kicking millions off their insurance.

Cut off Americans from their Doctors: Access to providers would decrease as insurance companies sell non-network health plans with unlimited costs to consumers and reduce the number of providers in their networks.

Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also introduced this resolution in the U.S. Senate today.