Washington, D.C. — Last night, Donald Trump doubled down on his call to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying it would be “a priority of the Trump administration.” This comes after a barrage of negative press for his call to “terminate” the ACA. Repealing the ACA means ripping away protections for the over 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, hiking premium costs for millions of working families, and allowing insurance companies to deny basic care like hospital visits and prescription drugs.
In total, if the ACA were “terminated,” 20 million Americans would lose coverage and 15 million would see higher health care costs. At a time when more people are covered by the ACA than ever before, the consequences would be devastating, particularly for people of color, older adults, rural populations, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Donald Trump only has one plan for American health care – repeal and destroy. Trump and MAGA Republicans won’t stop until millions are left without coverage, 135 million people with pre-existing conditions are no longer protected, and drug and insurance companies are back in charge. More people are relying on the ACA than ever before, and millions are finding coverage for $10 or less thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress. Yet Trump wants to turn back the clock to the days when insurance prices were sky-high and people could be thrown off their coverage at the whim of insurance companies. Trump cannot run from the truth: his only plan is to repeal American health care. The American people refuse to go back.”
Background
If the Affordable Care Act is repealed:
- GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, including 54 million people with a pre-existing condition that would make them completely uninsurable.
- GONE: Medicaid expansion, which covers more than 21 million people.
- GONE: 49 million seniors will have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare ‘donut hole’ will be reopened.
- GONE: 2.3 million adult children will no longer be able to stay on their parents’ insurance.
- GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women more than men.
- GONE: Premium tax credits that help 80 percent of people who purchase health care on the marketplace.
- GONE: Key support for rural hospitals.
- GONE: Ban on insurance companies having lifetime caps on coverage.
- GONE: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.
- GONE: 61.5 million Medicare beneficiaries will face higher costs and disruptions to their medical care.
Read more:
Report: The MAGA Republican War on American Health Care
Fact Sheet: The GOP’s Threat To The ACA Is As Real As Ever
Fact Sheet: Trump Vows to “Never Give Up” MAGA-Republican Efforts to Repeal the Affordable Care Act, Ripping Health Care Away From Millions