Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Push to Overturn Trump Affordable Care Act Rule that Will Increase Costs, Terminate Care for Millions

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, joined by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and other colleagues, today introduced a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act to repeal the Trump Administration's rule that will undermine the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and produce worse health care coverage for higher costs for Oregonians.

The Trump Administration's rule promotes the use of catastrophic health plans with extremely high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, loosens physician network requirements for plans and proposes that insurers be allowed to offer "non-network" plans that may not cover the cost of care. This would make it easier for insurers to raise costs at their leisure, sell new kinds of junk insurance coverage, increase working families' deductibles, cover fewer services and kick more providers out of network. Since the resolution was introduced under the CRA, the Senate must vote on this resolution of disapproval to repeal this disastrous rule and protect Americans' coverage.

"At every opportunity, Republicans have made Americans' health care more expensive and handed more power to big insurance companies," Wyden said. "Trump's latest attack on affordable health care includes sleazy schemes to let insurance companies sell you plans with skyhigh deductibles then turn around and offer you a loan to pay for the care you can't afford. This vote will be an opportunity to show American families where each party stands on affordable health care."

"Health care is a human right, not a luxury for the rich," said Merkley. "Trump's proposed rule would significantly raise health care costs, kick families off their coverage, and line insurance companies' pockets with Americans' hard-earned dollars. As Trump and Republicans attack health care for millions, I'm fighting back to ensure every person, regardless of income, background, or location, has access to the health care they need and deserve."

The Trump Administration's rule changes to the Affordable Care Act would directly produce the following harms:

• Terminating Insurance: According to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates, the rule would reduce enrollment in the Affordable Care Act plans by up to 2 million people;
• Increasing Costs: Insurance would become more unaffordable. For example, bronze plans would have maximum out-of-pocket costs of $15,600 for an individual or $31,200 for a family in 2027 - almost the entire income of an individual earning at the federal poverty level;
• Reducing Benefits: Benefits may be reduced in many states - meaning Americans could lose access to coverage for substance use disorder treatment, hearing aids, or other critical services;
• Increasing Red Tape: Paperwork burdens would increase for 4.7 million Americans, making it more difficult for them to get the coverage they deserve and kicking millions off their insurance;
• Cutting off Americans from their Doctors: Access to providers would decrease as insurance companies sell non-network health plans - with unlimited costs to consumers - and reduce the number of providers in their networks;

In addition to Wyden, the resolution was led by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Along with Merkley, the resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Angus King, I-Maine, Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Mark Warner, D-Va. The resolution was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor, D-Fla. and Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.

The full text of the resolution is here.

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