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We have reached a critical point for the future of American health care and the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On June 25th, Trump’s Department Of Justice (DOJ) and Republican-led states are submitting their briefs in support of California v. Texas, the lawsuit seeking to strike down the ACA. If President Trump and Republicans have their way, 20 million Americans will lose their insurance coverage, 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will be stripped of their protections, and costs will go up for millions. The consequences of the lawsuit for America’s health care are particularly devastating at a time the country is gripped by the coronavirus crisis which threatens the health and safety of the entire nation.

No action would be more damaging to Americans’ health and safety than if the Trump administration achieves their desired goal of overturning the ACA in its entirety during this crisis. When the court hears this case, there will likely be no vaccine and no viable treatment for the virus. When millions of Americans have already lost health insurance due to the pandemic, it’s absurd that President Trump is arguing in court that 20 million more Americans should lose their health care. And when millions of Americans who contract the coronavirus join the 135 million Americans with a pre-existing condition, President Trump will also be arguing in court to allow insurance companies to deny them coverage or charge them more. The submission of these briefs from Republican states will put the Trump administration’s politically-motivated lawsuit on full display for the American people in front of the highest court.

Days of Action: Day 2 of 12 focuses on health care protections for women. To learn more about our Days of Action, visit our website.

What’s At Stake: Protections for Women

Health care coverage for women is especially important during the coronavirus pandemic. Women are on the front lines of responding to the crisis as health care workers and other essential jobs and are therefore more likely to be exposed to the coronavirus. At the same time, the economic impacts of the pandemic have disproportionately impacted women, who have seen greater job loss overall–likely resulting in loss of health care coverage as well. 

New York Times: 52 Percent Of All Essential Workers Are Women. “Women make up nearly nine out of 10 nurses and nursing assistants, most respiratory therapists, a majority of pharmacists and an overwhelming majority of pharmacy aides and technicians. More than two-thirds of the workers at grocery store checkouts and fast food counters are women.” [New York Times, 4/18/20] 

Women Make Up 77 Percent Of All Health Care Workers. “There are 19 million health care workers nationwide, nearly three times as many as in agriculture, law enforcement and the package delivery industry combined…There are now four registered nurses for every police officer, and still hospitals raise alarms about nursing shortages. Within this massive, ever-growing and now indispensable part of the economy, nearly four out of five workers are women.” [New York Times, 4/18/20] 

• In Mid-June, National Nurses United Reported 939 Covid-Related Deaths Among Health Care Workers. “The nation’s largest nurses union, National Nurses United, puts the total much higher: 939 fatalities among health-care workers, based on reports from its chapters around the country, social media and obituaries. Nurses represent about 15 percent of those deaths, the union said.” [Washington Post, 6/17/20] 
• An April CDC Report Found That Women Accounted For 73 Percent Of Infections Among Health Care Workers. “This is reflected in another grim statistic: While male doctors and nurses have died on the front lines, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women account for 73 percent of the U.S. health care workers who have been infected since the outbreak began.” [New York Times, 4/18/20] 

In April, The Unemployment Rate For Women Reached 15.5 Percent, Compared To 13 Percent For Men. “The US economy shed an unprecedented 20.5 million jobs in April alone, pushing the unemployment rate to 14.7% — the highest since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began to track monthly data in 1948…But it was worse for women: The unemployment rate for women climbed to 15.5%, while the rate for men increased to 13%, according to the BLS. Women of color were especially hard hit by the job losses, with the April unemployment rates reaching 16.4% for black women and 20.2% for Hispanic women.” [CNN, 5/11/20] 

If the ACA is overturned, key protections for women would be ripped away overnight: 

• GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. The uninsured rate will increase by 65 percent. 
• GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women 50 percent more than men.
• GONE: Contraception coverage for 60 million people who now have access to birth control with no out-of-pocket costs.
• GONE: A ban on discrimination for women, LGBTQ Americans, and individuals with disabilities in health care settings. 
• GONE: Essential protections for breastfeeding parents, including workplace standards and access to breast pumps with no out-of-pocket costs.

68 million women with pre-existing conditions would lose protections. An estimated 68 million women and girls have pre-existing conditions that would be grounds for insurance companies charging more or denying them coverage without the ACA.. According to Planned Parenthood: “Millions of women were denied coverage because of a range of health issues labeled as pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy, breast cancer, and irregular periods. Black and Latino women face higher rates of many chronic illnesses. As a result, higher premiums or denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions threaten the health and financial security of women of color the most.” 

Women can be charged more than men for the same coverage. Prior to the ACA, women were often charged premiums on the nongroup market of up to 50 percent higher than men for the same coverage. Without the ACA, women would also lose guaranteed coverage of birth control and other preventive care services. Before the ACA, 1 in 5 women reported postponing or going without preventive care due to cost.

More than 60 million people could lose access to birth control with no out-of-pocket fees. The ACA guarantees that private health plans cover 18 methods of contraception and make them available to 62.4 million patients with no out-of-pocket costs. More than 99 percent of sexually-active women have used contraceptives at some point in their lifetimes, and approximately 60 percent of women of reproductive age currently use at least one birth control method. In addition to increasing access to this essential treatment, this ACA provision has saved money for women and their families: women saved $1.4 billion on birth control pills alone in 2013.

Women, LGBTQ Americans, and individuals with disabilities can face discrimination in health care settings. Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits discrimination the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability by any health program or activity receiving federal assistance. It also prohibits these types of discrimination in health programs and activities administered by HHS as well as the ACA marketplaces. 

Nursing parents would lose breastfeeding support and critical workplace protections. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support and counseling, as well as breast pumps without cost-sharing for pregnant and nursing women.

Democrats’ Bill to Strengthen the ACA Comes Just Days Before Trump and Republican AGs File Briefs on June 25 in Support of the Lawsuit to Overturn the Law 

Washington, DC — Today House Democrats released the language of their bill to improve health care for Americans by building on key provisions in the Affordable Care Act. The “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act” would improve health care by incentivizing holdout states to expand Medicaid and expanding Medicaid eligibility for mothers 12 months postpartum. The bill will also increase coverage affordability by offering increased financial assistance to more people and increase funding for outreach for open enrollment. The introduction of Democrats’ bill comes the same week as the Trump administration and Republican-led states will file briefs in support of their lawsuit to overturn the ACA and rip health care from 20 million Americans. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement: 

“The bill introduced by House Democrats today will lower costs, expand coverage, and strengthen protections for pre-existing conditions. While Democrats will be moving forward with this bill to improve Americans’ health care, Trump and Republicans are moving forward with a lawsuit that would destroy it — in the middle of a pandemic. The choice could not be clearer — one side is trying to rip coverage away from millions of Americans in the midst of a public health crisis while the other is trying to make health care more accessible and affordable for the American people.”

We have reached a critical point for the future of American health care and the fate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). On June 25th, Trump’s Department Of Justice (DOJ) and Republican-led states are submitting their briefs in support of California v. Texas, the lawsuit seeking to strike down the ACA. If President Trump and Republicans have their way, 20 million Americans will lose their insurance coverage, 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will be stripped of their protections, and costs will go up for millions. The consequences of the lawsuit for America’s health care are particularly devastating at a time the country is gripped by the coronavirus crisis which threatens the health and safety of the entire nation.

No action would be more damaging to Americans’ health and safety than if the Trump administration achieves their desired goal of overturning the ACA in its entirety during this crisis. When the court hears this case, there will likely be no vaccine and no viable treatment for the virus. When millions of Americans have already lost health insurance due to the pandemic, it’s absurd that President Trump is arguing in court that 20 million more Americans should lose their health care. And when millions of Americans who contract the coronavirus join the 135 million Americans with a pre-existing condition, President Trump will also be arguing in court to allow insurance companies to deny them coverage or charge them more. The submission of these briefs from Republican states will put the Trump administration’s politically-motivated lawsuit on full display for the American people in front of the highest court.

Days of Action: Day 1 of 12 focuses on Medicaid Expansion. To learn more about our Days of Action, visit our website.

What’s At Stake: Medicaid Expansion

Overturning the Affordable Care Act would take coverage away from millions of working families and children who finally gained health coverage thanks to Medicaid expansion. The impact of eliminating Medicaid expansion would be particularly devastating as the nation is still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. 

Medicaid Expansion Is A Key Tool In Fighting Coronavirus. Because of the ACA, states can get additional federal money to expand Medicaid to vulnerable populations, including low-income childless adults, older adults, and people with disabilities. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 27 million Americans likely lost their health care during the pandemic. In states that have rejected expansion, many of these individuals are likely locked out of receiving Medicaid coverage. 

As A Result Of The Pandemic, An Additional 300,000 People In North Carolina Fall Into The Medicaid “Coverage Gap.” As a result of the state’s decision to reject Medicaid expansion, 500,000 North Carolinians fell into the “coverage gap”–where they made too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to qualify for ACA subsidies–just ahead of the pandemic. Officials estimate that this figure has grown by 300,000 during the coronavirus crisis. If North Carolina expanded Medicaid, these 800,000 individuals could get covered. 

Uninsured People Are Particularly Vulnerable As They Face The Possibility Of Coronavirus And Devastating Health Care Bills. Low-income individuals are especially at risk for being exposed to the virus, as they are often service workers deemed essential and are unable to practice social distancing. The Kaiser Family Foundation that 2 million uninsured patients could be hospitalized due to the virus, threatening to leave them with tens of thousands in medical bills. It is especially important for these families to have Medicaid to turn to for coverage in this public health emergency. 

17 Million People Nationwide Are Currently Enrolled Through Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid Expansion Saves Lives. A report by the Center On Budget And Policy Priorities found that “the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) expansion of Medicaid to low-income adults is preventing thousands of premature deaths each year, a landmark study finds. It saved the lives of at least 19,200 adults aged 55 to 64 over the four-year period from 2014 to 2017. Conversely, 15,600 older adults died prematurely because of state decisions not to expand Medicaid.” 

Medicaid Expansion Led To Gains In Coverage For Children. A study in Health Affairs found that 710,000 children gained public coverage as a result of their parents enrolling in Medicaid between 2013 and 2015. The study notes “the effect was largest among children whose parents gained Medicaid eligibility through the expansion.” If the remaining non-expansion states expanded Medicaid, 200,000 additional children would gain health coverage. 

Medicaid Expansion Helps Reduce Racial Disparities In Health Care. Medicaid expansion played a key role in increasing coverage rates for communities of color. After the implementation of the ACA, gaps in insurance coverage narrowed the most in states that adopted Medicaid expansion. Today, a Black person living in an expansion state is more likely to be insured than a white person residing in a state that rejected Medicaid expansion. 

If the Affordable Care Act is struck down:

• Seventeen Million People Enrolled Through Medicaid Expansion Could Lose Coverage.
• Access To Treatment Would Be In Jeopardy For 800,000 People With Opioid Use Disorder. Roughly four in ten, or 800,000 people with an opioid use disorder are enrolled in Medicaid. Many became eligible through Medicaid expansion.
• Key Support For Rural Hospitals Would Disappear, leaving hospitals with $9.6 billion more in uncompensated care. 
• States Would Lose Important Federal Health Care Funding — an estimated reduction of $135 billion in the first year. The Urban Institute estimates that a full repeal of the ACA would reduce federal spending on Medicaid/CHIP care and Marketplace subsidies by $135 billion, or 34.6 percent in the first year.

 Trump and Republican States File Supreme Court Briefs on June 25th in the Case to Overturn the ACA

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is launching 12 days of action to bring attention to the dire consequences of the Trump-Republican lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as the Trump administration and Republican AGs file their briefs in the case this week. On Thursday June 25th, Trump’s Department Of Justice (DOJ) and Republican-led states will submit their briefs to the Supreme Court in support of California v. Texas, the lawsuit seeking to strike down the ACA. If President Trump and Republicans have their way, 20 million Americans will lose their insurance coverage, 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will be stripped of their protections, and costs will go up for millions. The consequences of the lawsuit for America’s health care are particularly devastating at a time the country is gripped by the coronavirus crisis which threatens the health and safety of the entire nation.

Over the course of POC’s days of action we will highlight a different aspect of the ACA while making clear what’s at stake if the Trump administration is successful in their lawsuit to overturn the law. Protect Our Care’s days of action will include press events and paid digital content nationally as well as in 13 key states in the lead up to and after the Trump administration and Republicans’ filings in the case. We will also be teaming up with partner organizations to host events and collaborate on digital efforts throughout. 

The first day of action starts today and will highlight Medicaid expansion under the ACA and what’s at stake for the millions of Americans who rely on its coverage if the law is overturned. 

“No action would be more damaging to Americans’ health care than if the Trump administration achieves their desired goal of overturning the ACA in its entirety, which is exactly what they hope to achieve in this case,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “This week the Trump administration will file their briefs in support of ripping health care away from 20 million Americans, protections for 135 million with pre-existing conditions and raising costs across the board all while America grapples with the worst public health crisis in recent history. Over the course of the next twelve days, we will be reminding Americans just how dire the consequences are for this country if the court ultimately overturns the health care law and takes away the coverage and critical protections the law provides for millions of Americans.” 

Days of Action

6/22 (Mon): Medicaid Expansion
6/23 (Tue):  Women
6/24 (Wed): Seniors
6/25 (Thu):  Prescription Drug Costs
6/26 (Fri):    People with Pre-Existing Conditions
—-
6/29 (Mon): Disability Community
6/30 (Tue):  LGBTQ Americans
7/1 (Wed):   Young Americans
7/2 (Thu):    African American Community
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7/6 (Mon):   Latino Community
7/7 (Tue):    Marketplace Signups & Financial Assistance
7/8 (Wed):   Rural Health (Including Opioids & Rural Hospitals)

African American communities have borne the brunt of the coronavirus crisis and will continue to suffer as a result of the administration’s botched effort to contain its spread. This new video from Protect Our Care makes clear just how devastating the economic and public health aspects of this crisis have been for African Americans who have lost jobs, been hospitalized and died at a disproportionately higher rate than white Americans. This week, Protect Our Care released a new report detailing how African Americans have suffered the brunt of the coronavirus and held a press call with Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to discuss the glaring racial disparities in the African American community caused by Trump’s actions to sabotage health care and his failure to contain the coronavirus. 

This new video brings into focus the grim reality of how Trump’s war on health care has hurt and will continue to hurt African Americans. 

WATCH PROTECT OUR CARE’S NEW VIDEO

Call Audio Available Here

Washington, DC — On a press call this afternoon, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), Arizona State Senator Tony Navarrete (D-AZ-30), National Hispanic Medical Association President and CEO Dr. Elena Rios along with Protect Our Care discussed the glaring racial disparities in the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis in Latino communities that have suffered the brunt of the financial consequences of the pandemic. Senator Cortez Masto, Rep. Ruiz, State Senator Navarette, Dr. Rios and Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach also addressed a new report released by Protect Our Care on how Latinos are far more likely to face barriers to accessing health care and how Trump’s war on health care, particularly his lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act, would devastate Latino communities during this crisis. 

Read the Full Report Here

“As the COVID-19 pandemic has made all too clear, Latinos face stark health disparities based on social, economic, and environmental factors,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “From increased risks to babies and mothers during pregnancy to elevated threats from the novel coronavirus for seniors in nursing homes, these disparities affect Latino communities at every stage. The Trump Administration’s attempt to rip away the Affordable Care Act would exacerbate these disparities even more. That’s why I’m working so hard in the Senate on more legislation to shore up our health care system, increase access to quality health care, safely restart our economy, and get Nevadans the resources they need to thrive.”

“COVID-19 has certainly hit communities of color harder, and it has magnified the inequities we already knew existed in our health care system,” said Dr. Ruiz. “Instead of working to increase health care access, this Administration has tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, slash Medicaid funding, and make it harder to see a doctor. We are determined to fight so that all Americans — regardless of zip code or the color of their skin — have access to the health care they need.”

“We knew that prior to COVID-19, the health disparities in communities of color throughout the nation were significantly behind their white counterparts across the country and what COVID-19 did was deepen those health inequities,” said State Senator Navarrete. “President Trump’s botched response to COVID-19 has had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many Americans, and here in Arizona we are seeing so many families have to deal with the pain of COVID-19 and the loss of family members.”

“The Trump administration has rolled back the tremendous gains of the Affordable Care Act — which was the most transformative law for us — especially in having navigators for our communities that come from Latin America and did not have health insurance in their families before,” said Dr. Rios. “Our Latino community is going to bear the brunt of COVID-19 as the backbone of the economy in this country. Latinos are the up and coming young people who are going to be the functioning adults in our whole country’s economic system, and whatever we can do on behalf of the National Hispanic Medical Association, that’s what we are here for.” 

“President Trump continues to fail Latino communities who face overwhelming barriers in accessing health care and protecting themselves from the coronavirus,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “Latinos are the least likely demographic to have health insurance and Latino workers are disproportionately represented in jobs more likely to expose them to the virus. President Trump needs to focus on serving Latino communities who have suffered as a result of his administration’s disastrous response to the coronavirus crisis and his years-long war against health care.”

Call Audio Available Here

Washington, DC — On a press call this afternoon, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) along with Protect Our Care discussed the glaring racial disparities in the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis. Communities of color have disproportionately suffered the brunt of the virus and stand to lose the most as a result of the administration’s botched effort to contain its spread. Senators Durbin and Duckworth, Rep. Kelly and Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach also addressed a new report released by Protect Our Care on how African Americans are far more likely to face barriers to accessing health care and how Trump’s war on health care, particularly his lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act would devastate African American communities during this crisis. 

Read the Full Report Here

“The racial health disparities we face today are the result of decades-long divestment and dis-enfranchisement in communities of color,” said Senator Durbin. “The coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately affected Black and Latinx communities, reminding us once again of the unacceptable and devastating inequalities in our country’s health care system. It is important, now more than ever, that we ensure that all communities—especially families of color—continue to have access to critical health care coverage.”

“The awful truth is that in Illinois, COVID-19 isn’t yesterday’s nightmare—it’s still today’s reality. And that’s especially true in communities of color where this pandemic has hit the hardest as too many folks in power choose to avert their eyes,” said Senator Duckworth. “The way this public health emergency is impacting minorities—especially Black Americans—and the statistics of these outcomes that we’ve seen from the West and South Sides of Chicago are shocking, but they’re not surprising. They’re the horrifyingly predictable consequences of the inequities in our healthcare, economic and environmental protection systems that have plagued communities of color for far too long. As we move toward passing a fourth phase of relief, I will do everything I can to make sure vulnerable communities get the resources, help and justice they deserve.”

“Since Illinois and other states started reporting the COVID-19 racial data it was shocking to see the numbers of Black people dying but not surprising because of the history of racial disparities,” said Representative Kelly. “To those of us who have worked on health disparities and access issues we know that any pandemic would have a disproportionate impact on more vulnerable communities and communities frankly that are on the frontlines to essential workers, and that is a section that speaks to a lot of the African American communities. This is America and we’re all Americans and there shouldn’t be a two-tiered system but generations of health disparities, inequities and a lack of access to care have actually created two Americas. Even before COVID-19, we lived in a nation in which the zip code in which you are born determines how long and how well you live. If we want to end these disparities we need to invest the resources in the communities suffering from them and empowering those communities to build a better future.”

“The Trump administration has failed to adequately address the unique challenges facing vulnerable African American communities during this crisis,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “African Americans are more likely than other constituencies to face barriers to accessing health care and face the brunt of the pandemic’s financial consequences, and the president’s years-long war on health care has only exacerbated these disparities. Instead of trying to rip away health care and cut access to critical programs like Medicaid and Medicare, President Trump should be focused on expanding access to health care for American Americans who have suffered disproportionately as a result of the administration’s disastrous response and health care sabotage.”

Five years ago, Donald Trump descended down his golden escalator at Trump Tower and announced his run for president. From that day, he promised to dismantle our health care and since the start of his presidency, Trump has waged an all-out war to terminate the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would take coverage from 20 million Americans and strip protections from 135 million with pre-existing conditions. This anniversary is a stark reminder of the existential threat of Trump’s war on health care, especially as the nation grapples with the worst public health crisis in a generation. 

Watch Protect Our Care’s Video on the Anniversary Here

Washington, DC — Five years ago today Donald Trump descended down his golden escalator at Trump Tower and in his first ever presidential campaign speech vowed to take American health care down with him. In the years following, President Trump has worked tirelessly to fulfill his pledge to rip health care away from Americans by trying relentlessly to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and take coverage from 20 million Americans and protections for 135 million with pre-existing conditions. Five years later, President Trump is still waging his war on Americans’ health care as the nation struggles in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In response to this fateful anniversary, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement: 

“Five years ago today Donald Trump descended down his golden escalator and vowed to rip apart American health care. Candidate Trump’s first campaign speech told Americans all they needed to know about the threat that President Trump would pose to their health care. In the years since, Trump has remained dead-set on destroying health care by trying time and again to overturn the ACA and take health care from 20 million Americans and protections for 135 million through both Congress and the courts. And while America’s health care system is still standing, President Trump has caused millions of Americans to live in constant fear of having their health care taken away, and has succeeded in making coverage less affordable and accessible all while lining the pockets of insurance companies with massive tax breaks as they raise costs on Americans. President Trump’s disastrous agenda has been made worse by his failed response to the coronavirus which has shown just how destructive his years-long war on health care has been for Americans. 

“Our country cannot afford another four years of Donald Trump’s disastrous health care agenda. The America we have today is defined by one act of Trump’s sabotage after another, and while this is no anniversary to celebrate, it’s a stark reminder of the existential threat of Trump’s war on health care, especially as the nation grapples with the worst public health crisis in a generation.” 

BACKGROUND: 

Tracking Trump’s Health Care Sabotage: Exhaustive Look at Trump’s Legacy-Defining War On America’s Health Care

Washington, DC — This afternoon, President Trump is holding a seniors roundtable event at the White House in response to his declining poll numbers with older Americans. As detailed in Protect Our Care’s “Seniors At Risk” report, President Trump’s failed response to the coronavirus and overall sabotage of Americans’ health care has meant seniors have experienced disproportionate impacts from the pandemic and Trump’s threats to Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act have threatened seniors’ health across the board. Ahead of today’s roundtable, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“The only reason Donald Trump is holding this event today is because he is losing the support of America’s seniors who are worried about their health care and know that President Trump has left them behind. President Trump’s ongoing war on health care coupled with his disastrous coronavirus response has put seniors’ lives in danger. Even before the pandemic began, the Trump administration and their Republican allies’ relentless attacks on the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare have hurt American seniors. With seniors bearing the brunt of this botched response to the coronavirus, it’s plain to see why they are no longer supporting the re-election of this disastrous president.” 

BACKGROUND:

Top Ways Trump Has Sabotaged Seniors’ Health Care

• Trump Is Backing A Lawsuit That Would Overturn The ACA, Which Would Cause Seniors To Pay More For Insurance And Prescription Drugs. Perhaps the most imminent threat to seniors’ health care, Trump’s lawsuit seeking to overturn the ACA would rip away coverage from 20 million people nationwide and eliminate protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions overnight. The lawsuit would also terminate Medicaid expansion and force people over the age of 50 to face a $4,000 “age tax” and to pay more for prescription drugs. 
• Trump Is Refusing To Open A Special Enrollment Period, Which Could Help Seniors Get The Health Care They Need. Despite calls from health insurers, lawmakers, and AARP, President Trump has refused to open a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to help the uninsured obtain coverage. Research confirms that between 1.8 and 2.4 million people would likely gain coverage if Trump opened a special enrollment period. Per the New York Times: “…the administration has also hampered some of its own efforts to appeal to older voters. Mr. Trump recently rejected an expanded enrollment period for the newly uninsured, for instance.”
• Trump Has Repeatedly Called For Medicare Cuts. Ahead of the pandemic, Trump made it clear he remained open to slashing benefits for vital programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security during an interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum. Trump has repeatedly proposed steep budget cuts to the program to help pay for his tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. 
• Trump Has Waged A War On Medicaid, Threatening Care For Seniors In Nursing Homes And Long-Term Care Facilities And The Economic Stability Of Families. Trump has spent his presidency sabotaging the Medicaid program, which has particularly devastating consequences for older adults. Between imposing strict paperwork requirements for enrollment and proposing steep budget cuts, Trump’s policies have done nothing but shrink enrollment. More than 15 million American seniors and older adults rely on Medicaid for coverage.
• Trump Refuses To Allow Medicare To Negotiate For Lower Drug Prices. As the cost of prescription drugs skyrocket, President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress refuse to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Seniors often live on fixed incomes, and the high cost of drugs can make accessing essential medications out of reach. Nearly 9 in 10 Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug costs for seniors. Despite numerous campaign promises, the Trump administration opposes House Democrats’ plan to allow negotiation and other important measures lower drug costs for seniors.