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Rep. Tonko: CBO Shows “Grim” Impact of Republican ‘Trumpcare’ PlanSkyrocketing costs for seniors, rising deductibles for individuals, 14 million to lose coverage next year, 24 million in next 10 years
Washington,
March 13, 2017
Tags:
Healthcare
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Taxes
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Environment
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Women's Health
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Senior Citizens
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Jobs & Economic Development
"This is not a healthcare plan, it’s a tax on working families and seniors and a tax cut for millionaires and billionaires. Without exception, this is the most harmful, most irresponsible piece of major legislation I have ever seen. Under this plan our middle class and working families pay more for less coverage. Our seniors and those approaching retirement are forced to pay thousands more to stay covered. And 24 million more of our most vulnerable neighbors will be shoved out into the cold." - Rep. Paul Tonko
WASHINGTON – Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, issued the following statement following the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) release of its highly-anticipated report on the Republican “Trumpcare” bill showing the plan would, among other things, end coverage for an estimated 14 million Americans next year and 24 million Americans would lose coverage over the next ten years:
Rep. Paul Tonko: “Today’s Congressional Budget Office assessment paints a grim portrait of what our nation’s healthcare system will look like at the hands of current Republican leaders if they choose to move forward with this terrible plan. I was discouraged when Republicans raced the clock to ram this bill through our committee last week. Now we can see why they did.
“This is not a healthcare plan, it’s a tax on working families and seniors and a tax cut for millionaires and billionaires. Without exception, this is the most harmful, most irresponsible piece of major legislation I have ever seen. Under this plan our middle class and working families pay more for less coverage. Our seniors and those approaching retirement are forced to pay thousands more to stay covered. And 24 million more of our most vulnerable neighbors will be shoved out into the cold.
“With this non-partisan report, my Republican colleagues now have all the warning they need to stop this disastrous proposal in its tracks. For the sake of their constituents and mine, I strongly urge them to reconsider their approach and instead work across the aisle to control rising prescription drug costs, improve support for small business creation and growth, and make other common-sense improvements to the laws we already have in place.”
This report comes after Republicans held a rushed all-day all-night 27 hour markup of the bill last week in the House Energy & Commerce Committee, just a day and a half after revealing the bill to members of Congress and the public. According to the CBO report, the Republican “Trumpcare” plan is expected to have at least following effects:
- 24 million Americans lose health insurance by 2026 (p. 2) - Average premiums increase 15-25% above estimates for current law for 2018-2019 (p. 3) - Higher deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses for individuals (p. 14) - "Age tax" of 20-25% increase in premiums for Americans nearing retirement (p. 22)
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