Democratic Health Leaders Raise Concerns about Undermining Comprehensive Health Care
WASHINGTON – Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal (MA-01), and Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor finalized a rule to rollback health coverage protections by expanding association health plans.
"The administration’s rule expanding the use of association health plans is yet another attack on Americans’ access to affordable health care. By allowing the sale of junk plans, the rule will remove younger, healthier individuals from insurance pools, which will drive up the cost of coverage for all other Americans. When people in these low-quality health plans unexpectedly need care, they are often surprised by excessive out-of-pocket costs, which can drive families into bankruptcy and force everyone else to absorb the cost of unpaid medical bills.
“This is why legal experts, consumer groups, and advocacy groups have consistently warned about the dangers of this rule ? specifically, about the impact this rule will have on premiums for 2019.
“The association health plan rule is just the latest in a series of attempts by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans to sabotage the Affordable Care Act. Whether it’s through questionable lawsuits or executive action, this administration and Republicans in Congress are relentlessly undermining patient protections, increasing uncertainty for insurers, and inflating the cost of coverage for the American people. Democrats will continue to press the administration to faithfully execute the law to ensure that every person has access to quality and affordable health care.”
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Press Contact
Scott: Joshua Weisz (202)-226-0853
Pallone: CJ Young (202) 225-5735
Neal: Erin Hatch (202) 225-4021
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