ICYMI: Rep. Kirkpatrick Slams Trump Administration's Brief Asking Supreme Court to Strike Down Affordable Care Act During Pandemic

Press Release

As the Trump Administration filed its brief with the Supreme Court asking the justices to strike down the entirety of the Affordable Care Act, Rep. Kirkpatrick released a new report finding that the number of Americans who would lose health coverage if the Republican lawsuit succeeds has grown to more than 23 million amid the historic health and economic emergency of the coronavirus. The report finds that 363,000 Arizonans would lose their health insurance.

"Arizonans are facing serious financial and health hardships right now. The pandemic has resulted in the state's highest employment numbers and we are seeing a surge of COVID cases sweep through the state. The virus is spreading and we still don't have a vaccine or even adequate testing available for our communities. Our hospitals are increasingly filling up with patients that need help, and more Arizonans are losing health insurance because of job loss," said Rep. Kirkpatrick, "It was bad enough when the Trump Administration tried to tear away the Affordable Care Act's protections for people with pre-existing conditions in normal times. Now, in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, it's unconscionable."

On the first day of this Congress, the new House Democratic Majority voted to intervene as a party in the lawsuit in order to defend people with pre-existing conditions. The House of Representatives filed its brief with the Supreme Court in support of the Affordable Care Act in early May, and oral arguments on the case are expected this fall.

If the Trump Administration succeeds in striking down the Affordable Care Act:

· GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.

· GONE: Medicaid expansion, which covers 17 million people.

· GONE: Nearly 12 million seniors will have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare "donut hole' will be reopened.

· GONE: 2.3 million adult children will no longer be able to stay on their parents' insurance.

· GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women 50 percent more than men.

· GONE: Financial assistance that helps 9 million people purchase health care in the marketplace.

· GONE: Key support for rural hospitals. As Americans lose coverage, already struggling hospitals will be hit even harder as their costs increase.

· GONE: Ban on insurance companies having lifetime caps on coverage.

· GONE: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.

"We should be building on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs, not ripping away every last benefit and protection that the law provides in the middle of a pandemic," said Rep. Kirkpatrick. "We should be doing everything we can to provide more health care access to families, not strip it away when we need care the most."

This Week, House Democrats introduced the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, legislation that builds on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs and prescription drug prices while reducing the ranks of the uninsured. For the first time, no person will have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their income on a silver plan in the marketplaces and many will see their premiums cut in half or more. A fact sheet on the bill is available here

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