MFV: GOP-led House Plays Bad Politics With Lives of Latinos and Millions More

WASHINGTON, DC — The Republican-led House passed on Thursday a bill that would replace the popular “Affordable Care Act” (ACA) with a health plan by that would skyrocket premium costs, let states opt out of Essential Health Benefits like maternity care, and drop 24 million people from coverage, including Latinos who rely on the ACA.

The bill also rolls back Medicaid expansion that is part of ACA, and leaves older patients and lower-income people without affordable health care. Instead, high-income earners and health insurers would get about $600 billion in tax breaks.

The following is a statement by Ben Monterroso, executive director of Mi Familia Vota:

“House members are heading back to their districts for a one-week recess after having passed a bill that would worsen health care coverage for millions of Americans. Good luck with that.

“Unless they run and hide, lawmakers will be confronted by angry constituents who rely on ACA and the guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions that would likely be lost under the House bill which leaves that up to states to provide.

“Under the bill that now goes to the Senate, 24 million would like lose insurance. As many as 15 million people with pre-existing conditions would be left behind. The higher premiums will hurt Latinos, who saw the uninsured rates working-age adults drop from 43.2 percent in 2010 to 24.8 percent in 2016. But Trumpcare makes sure the wealthy get tax breaks.

“The only reason the House took this vote was because it lacked the courage to stand up to a president who boasted during his campaign that he would wipe out President Obama’s health care plan. Unable to come up with a better plan, they approved one that will fail miserably.

“The Senate should stay as far away from it as possible. Too many members of our community will remember who took away their health care coverage and vote accordingly next year.”