Washington, D.C. — In a desperate attempt to maintain their majority, House Republicans introduced legislation to delay their health care cost hikes until after the midterm elections. Under this plan, tax credits that make premiums more affordable would end permanently after next year. Insurance companies have already indicated they plan to raise premiums for 24 million Americans by an average of 18 percent. Even with this legislation, Republicans are still ripping away tax credits from over 20 million, forcing them to pay an average of 75 percent more for their coverage. Instead of owning their vote to gut health care to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy, Republicans are trying to conceal the true impact of their Big, Ugly Bill on hardworking families until after the midterms. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“Health care premiums are skyrocketing because of the GOP budget bill, and the American people are demanding an end to price hikes. But rather than fix the problem permanently, Republicans are trying to avoid the wrath of their constituents at the ballot box with a one-year delay in these devastating price hikes. Let’s be clear on where Republicans stand: they permanently extended tax breaks for billionaires while ripping away tax credits from the middle class. It’s time to give hardworking Americans their ACA tax credits back permanently — not just for one year, which is clearly designed just to give Republicans political cover.”