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| By: David Trott MI 11th Congressional District Congressman (R) |
Since coming to Congress, I have supported replacing the
Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) with a market-based plan that reduces costs and
provides better care for the American people.
That's why, yesterday, I voted in support of the American
Health Care Act-legislation that replaces Obamacare with a patient-centered
system, lowers costs for families, and protects Americans with
pre-existing conditions.
While this bill is far from perfect and there is plenty that
both sides are not satisfied with, I do believe it is a better approach than
was taken by Obamacare.
Back in 2009, the American people were promised health premiums would decline by $2,500
per family, but the average premium has actually gone up and the average
family's employer-sponsored health care plan now costs more than $18,000 a
year. In Michigan, premiums for individuals are expected to climb nearly 17% in
2017. Last year alone, we saw deductibles increase an average of $492 across
all plans on the Obamacare exchange.
What I have heard
from many families and small businesses in Southeast Michigan is that this
top-down, Washington-centered approach to health care has not worked. Citizens
that I represent have told me concerns regarding increasing premiums, higher
taxes, fewer choices, and less access to care.
After carefully
reviewing the American Health Care Act and the amendments made to the bill, I
believe this legislation makes several key improvements, such as:
- Eliminates
the individual and employer mandate penalties, which forced millions
of workers, families, and job creators into expensive, inadequate
Obamacare plans that they don't want and cannot afford.
- Dismantles
the Obamacare taxes that have hurt job creators, increased
premium costs, and limited options for patients and health care providers.
- Guarantees
coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions and bans
health insurers from charging a patient with pre-existing conditions
higher premiums as long as they maintain continuous coverage, or sign up
for new coverage within 63 days of exiting a previous insurance plan.
- Helps
young adults access health insurance and stabilize the
marketplace by allowing dependents to continue staying on their parents'
plan until they are 26.
- Modernizes
and strengthens Medicaid so states can better serve patients most in need.
- Empowers
individuals and families to spend their health care dollars the
way they want and need by enhancing and expanding Health Savings Accounts
(HSAs).
- Help
Americans access affordable, quality health care by providing a
monthly tax credit-between $2,000 and $14,000 a year-for low-and middle-income
individuals and families who don't receive insurance through work or a
government program.
Yesterday, I also supported the Public Health Service Act,
legislation that requires Members of Congress to live under the American Health
Act, ensuring there are no exemptions for Members or their staff.
Regrettably,
there has been a lot of misinformation spread about this bill, especially
regarding how the bill protects people with pre-existing conditions. Here
is the truth:
Under no
circumstance can people be denied coverage because of a pre-existing
condition. Current
law prohibiting pricing customers based on health status remains in place
and can only be waived by a state if that state has chosen to take care
of the people through other risk-sharing or reinsurance mechanisms.
Even if a state asks for, and is granted a waiver, no person may be priced
based on health status if they have maintained continuous health coverage.
On November 8th, citizens voted for President Trump and Congressional Republicans on
the promise to replace the Affordable Care Act with real patient-centered
reforms. The American people have already rendered a verdict on Obamacare and I
am committed to fighting for the kind of reforms the citizens of this country
expect to see.
We all knew that bringing change to Washington would not be easy - there are many special interests and partisan groups who will always fight to keep the status quo. Making the kind of tough decisions that are needed to turn our country around will require real leadership and teamwork.
We all knew that bringing change to Washington would not be easy - there are many special interests and partisan groups who will always fight to keep the status quo. Making the kind of tough decisions that are needed to turn our country around will require real leadership and teamwork.
Today's vote
is the first step in a longer, three-phase legislative process that will move
away from the big government mandates in the Affordable Care Act and instead
allow people both the freedom and the ability to choose the quality health care
they want.
You can learn
more about the legislation and read the text of bill by clicking here.
I believe the
American people send their lawmakers to Washington to tackle big challenges -
and I am committed to doing just that.
Thank you for
standing with me in this fight.
