The House just voted to rip apart our health care system with a dangerous bill that replaces our current health care system. This bill is unconscionable, and this vote is a devastating update in our fight to save our care.
Congress went ahead with this vote even though a large majority of Americans oppose it. It’s a vote that goes against the will of the people, and has deathly consequences for families whose lives depend on health coverage. Americans from both parties and major health organizations like the AARP, American Cancer Society, and American Heart Association all oppose this bill, and yet the House still pushed it forward.
Here’s what you need to know about the American Health Care Act (AHCA):
- Fewer people will be covered, with higher costs: It cuts coverage for 24 million people and will raise premiums by 20 percent.
- It’s discriminatory: It takes away protections that prevent insurers from charging some people more than others.
- It allows insurers to charge 5 times more for people over the age of 50. That’s why people—and organizations like the AARP—are calling it an “age tax” that unfairly punishes seniors.
- It takes away guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing conditions. For millions of people—including those who have conditions through no fault of their own—this is unconscionable decision.
- The bill also harms women in particular by eliminating required coverage for maternity and newborn care and preventive and contraceptive care—as well as defunding Planned Parenthood.
- It ends Medicaid as we know it: Millions of seniors, children, and people with disabilities will lose health care.
- It gives $600 billion in new tax breaks to the ultra-rich: This health care bill puts millions of American families on the line while privileging wealthy insurance and drug companies.
Together, we will keep fighting to make sure this bill NEVER becomes law.
The Senate will vote on this bill next, and we need to make sure that we keep up the pressure every day to urge them to reject this awful bill.
Photo courtesy of Lauren Santa Cruz.
