President Donald Trump’s decision to repeal the Affordable Care Act would cost tens of millions of Americans their health coverage, all in order to give a massive tax cut to the wealthy. Today, Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a bill that would undermine the health, safety, and economic security of the American people while driving up costs for millions—especially the sickest Americans.
Led by President Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), this bill slashes care and raises costs for working families, low-income people, women, older Americans, and those living in rural areas. It would result in people with pre-existing conditions being charged thousands of dollars more for coverage, including $4,000 for asthma, $17,000 for pregnancy, and $142,000 for metastatic cancer. Additionally, the 150 million individuals on employer-based plans could face the return of annual and lifetime caps on coverage.
This bill would disproportionately harm President Trump’s own supporters—the exact opposite of the kind of change they voted for. It would result in higher premiums, leaving families struggling to make ends meet as they face bigger bills to pay and punishing hardworking families across this country so that President Trump can give hundreds of billions of dollars to the wealthiest Americans.
Next week, progressives will flood the town hall meetings, mailboxes, and voicemails of their elected officials to hold them accountable for this vote. The Senate should listen to their constituents back home and reject this disaster of a bill that would result in the loss of American livelihoods and lives.