House Republicans "Ironically" Plan to Strip States of Resources Needed to Create New Private Health Insurance Marketplaces

House Republicans Won’t Allow Their Constituents to Gain Similar Health Coverage that Members of Congress Enjoy

Washington, D.C.—This week, House Republicans plan to vote on a bill (H.R. 1213) to take from states the grants they can use to establish “exchanges,” new state-based marketplaces authorized by the Affordable Care Act, that will enable consumers and small businesses to select the private health insurance plans they want. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of the consumer health organization Families USA, about this development:

“House Republicans rhetorically exalt the private health insurance marketplace. They ironically, however, plan to defund the creation of such state marketplaces that would enable consumers and small businesses to choose the private health plans they want.

“This is a perfect example of how their politically motivated zeal to criticize the Affordable Care Act trumps even their long-stated principles.

“Under the Affordable Care Act, states have tremendous flexibility to design state-tailored health insurance marketplaces, called exchanges, to meet the needs of their consumers, strengthen the private insurance market, and provide reasonable consumer protections. If the House Republican bill were to pass, this state flexibility would be taken away.

“Additionally, the bill would prevent middle-class and moderate-income families from receiving the tax credit subsidies through the new exchanges to make health premiums affordable. As a result, House Republicans would prevent their constituents from gaining health coverage that is similar to what members of Congress enjoy.

“This misguided legislation deserves to be defeated—and it ultimately will be.”

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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.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org