Washington October 19, 2018 – Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on Republicans’ continued efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
“The Affordable Care Act has been an undeniable success in California, lowering the rate of uninsured from 17 percent to 6.8 percent. We must protect the progress we’ve made and build on it.
“However, Leader Mitch McConnell this week made clear that Republicans will again try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, jeopardizing health care for millions of Americans. He also pledged to reduce the deficit created by their tax cut for the wealthy by cutting Medicare and Medicaid. Repealing the Affordable Care Act and slashing federal health care programs, which currently cover more than 20 million Californians, would devastate care throughout the state, where currently:
· 18 million are covered through employer;
· 13 million are covered by Medicaid, including 5 million children;
· 6 million are covered by Medicare;
· 1.5 million are covered through Covered California;
· 2.7 million are uninsured, including 1.5 million undocumented immigrants who aren’t eligible for federal programs.
“Republicans repealed the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which ensures young, healthy individuals are covered, in their tax cut bill. Repealing the mandate means 378,000 fewer Californians will have health care. In fact, Covered California estimates that 40 percent of this year’s rate increase is directly attributable to repealing the individual mandate, forcing Californians to spend $400 million more on health insurance.
“Make no mistake, Republican efforts to weaken the Affordable Care Act are causing families and the federal government to pay more for health care.”