Senate Republican Health Repeal Bill: “Making America Uninsured Again”

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Tax Policy Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its cost estimate "score" of the Senate Republicans' misnamed "Better Care Reconciliation Act." Rep. Doggett said:

"The CBO score confirms that the Republican health repeal bill remains a big loser. The super-rich get more wealth while many get less health. After weeks of secret maneuvering and arm twisting, their big accomplishment is lowering the number of Americans who lose health care coverage from 24 million to 23 million to 22 million. This Republican bill is a giant tax cut for those at the top masquerading as a health care bill. This losing score further evidences the importance of stopping both the Senate rush for repeal this week and the ongoing Trump sabotage of the ACA.

"Under their plan, insurance becomes a scheme of fear and fine print—fear that you will not be able to afford your care and fine print to keep you from qualifying for the care you need. The more time the public has to understand this sorry bill, the louder they will protest against it. Keeping the American people in the dark is the least patriotic way to celebrate our Nation's birthday. Republicans seem intent on making America uninsured again."

The CBO estimates that under the bill, 22 million more people will become uninsured in 2026, and Medicaid spending would reduce by $772 billion. The CBO also previously estimated that the House Republicans' so-called "American Health Care Act" would cause 23 more million people to become uninsured, cut Medicaid by $834 billion, and give more than $600 billion in tax breaks to high-income households, drug companies, and insurers.

The Republicans' health care repeal bills are opposed by nearly all health care professional, disease advocacy, and consumer protection groups, including the American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Cancer Society, Children's Hospital Association, and AARP. Stories of constituents who would lose under the Republican repeal plan are available upon request.