Congressman Steve Daines today released the following statement in response to President Obama's proposed administrative "fix" allowing insurance companies the option to extend current health insurance plans for only one year:
"President Obama promised the American people that if "you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.' But for tens of thousands of Montanans, his words are nothing more than a broken promise that has resulted in canceled insurance plans and rising health care costs.
"Today's announcement does very little to resolve the President's broken promise or provide hard-working Montana families with much-needed relief and protection from the President's failed health care law. Over the past month, I've heard from hundreds of Montanans who are looking for relief from the consequences of President Obama's health care law, and unfortunately, today's proposal isn't a long-term fix, nor does it address the core problems with this failed law.
"This isn't a long-term fix for Dean and Summer, parents to an autistic son and a daughter with muscular dystrophy living in northwestern Montana, who will see their health care costs increased by $4500 next year. This isn't a long-term fix for Anne Marie in Miles City, whose family is facing an additional $3000 per year in health care costs due to increased premiums and deductibles. This isn't a long-term fix for Paula, a health care provider in Kalispell who is questioning the viability of her private practice and ability to continue providing care to many of her patients.
"Montanans deserve a permanent solution, not a short-term, politically-driven patch on this deeply flawed law. I will continue fighting to fully repeal President Obama's failed health care law and working toward real solutions that protect Montanans' access to their doctors and the health care plans they want."