Republican Repeal of Health Reform Increases Budget Deficit by $230 Billion in First 10 Years, Additional Trillion in Following 10 Years

The Congressional Budget Office today released a letter to new House Speaker John Boehner stating that the new House majority’s proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act, scheduled for a House vote next week, would increase the budget deficit by $230 billion over the next 10 years and more than $1 trillion in the 10 years that follow. The CBO also projected that repeal would cost an estimated 32 million Americans their access to health coverage. The following is the statement of Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack on the CBO letter.

“This repeal effort emphasizes the old adage: ‘Watch what they do, not what they say!’ Today’s analysis by the Congressional Budget Office demonstrates how the House Republican leadership says one thing and does another.

“They talk about reducing the deficit, but the repeal bill would do the opposite and flood the nation with much more red ink.

They say they want to make health coverage more affordable for America’s families, but the repeal bill would cause 32 million more people to be without health coverage than the current law.

“They talk about helping businesses, but the repeal bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office, would increase employer premiums.

“They say they will focus like a laser on creating jobs, but the controversial repeal bill does not do that.
 
“It’s duplicitous to take from the American public what members of Congress will keep for themselves. America’s families will face denials of coverage due to pre-existing conditions, will lose a guaranteed right of appeal for denied claims, and will lose access to tax credits to obtain coverage. Those voting for repeal, however, will continue to enjoy these and other health coverage benefits and rights—courtesy of American taxpayers.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

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202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org