08.15.17

Scott Statement on CBO’s Report on Skyrocketing Premiums if Trump Administration Ends Cost-Sharing Payments

WASHINGTON – Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, released the following statement after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its assessment of the impact of terminating cost-sharing payments.

"Today, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the Trump administration's reckless actions continue to jeopardize access to health coverage for millions of Americans across the country. For months, the administration has injected uncertainty into the market by threatening to withhold payments legally owed to insurers. These payments directly help consumers afford their insurance and act as rebates to lower costs for low and moderate-income families. The CBO confirmed that withholding these payments would cause premiums to rise 20 percent by next year and add $194 billion to the federal deficit over the next ten years.  We have already seen the consequences of the uncertainty created by the administration.  Just last week, Anthem announced that it would no longer sell Marketplace plans in Virginia. The administration should not continue to attempt to sabotage the Affordable Care Act.  Instead, it is time for Congress and the administration to work together to improve and strengthen the existing system, and the first step is to enforce the Affordable Care Act as the law of the land."

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