The GOP’s Tax Scam Represents the Largest Cuts to Health Care in American History
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Republicans voted to pass, barely, Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill, which will fund massive tax breaks for the wealthiest individuals and corporations by ripping health care from 17 million Americans and slashing Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Despite widespread opposition from the American people, including voters across the political spectrum, Senate Republicans voted to pass the deepest cuts to health care in American history. In response, Protect Our Care President Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Today, by the thinnest of margins, Senate Republicans voted to pass the biggest, ugliest bill in history. Republican Senators just voted to kick seniors out of nursing homes, rip health care away from disabled children, close rural hospitals, and snatch coverage away from 17 million Americans, all so Donald Trump and Republicans can give tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. It’s a disgusting display of political chutzpah from a party that bullshitted its way through the last election proclaiming they would look out for working families and help make life more affordable for ordinary Americans.
It’s the lie of the decade, but one that will blow up on Republicans once millions of Americans realize their health care was ripped away so more billionaires can rent out entire European cities for lavish weddings. As this bill moves back to the House for a final vote, the choice for so-called Republican moderates is clear: protect the health care of the people you serve or give tax breaks to billionaires.”
BACKGROUND:
Here are five key ways the GOP tax scam will decimate health care for Americans:
- Republicans will cut over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for handouts to the wealthiest Americans and corporations. The big, ugly bill will destroy the pillars of American health care with the largest cuts to health care in history, jeopardizing programs that nearly 100 million Americans rely on for their care – all to give trillions in tax breaks to billionaires and hugely profitable companies. To top it off, Republicans battled the Senate parliamentarian to sneak in a $5 billion giveaway to drug companies at the ninth hour, driving up the cost of prescription drugs for seniors and taxpayers.
- Republicans will rip away health care from 17 million Americans, including seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities, leaving them with nowhere to turn for treatment for cancer or diabetes. According to new estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, roughly a million more people will lose health care coverage under the Senate-passed bill.
- Republicans will hike premiums through the roof for over 20 million Americans by eliminating tax credits that make health care affordable for middle-class families, small business owners, and rural Americans. Premiums will nearly double on average for 22 million Americans and out-of-pocket costs will skyrocket for millions more, leaving 5 million additional Americans uninsured and unable to see a doctor when they need to.
- Republicans could shutter over 330 rural hospitals and 570 nursing homes across the country. The GOP bill will cut hundreds of billions in critical funding for hospitals and nursing homes, bury them under the burden of uncompensated care, and force hundreds to close their doors. Expectant mothers will be forced to travel further to get to the nearest maternity ward. Patients will have to travel hundreds of miles to get to an emergency room. Seniors will be forced to leave their nursing homes.
- Republicans will force at least 5.4 million more people into medical debt. Medical debt already affects 100 million people in America. 17 million people are expected to lose coverage due to GOP proposals and families losing coverage could see their medical debt increase as much as $22,280. American medical debt is expected to skyrocket by 15 percent, resulting in an additional $50 billion of medical debt.