According to recent news reports, Republicans in the House of Representatives have resurrected plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act after Rep. Tom MacArthur introduced an amendment to the American Health Care Act that has the support of the House Freedom Caucus.  The MacArthur Amendment would allow individual states to apply for federal waivers, allowing insurers to charge those with pre-existing conditions outside of the community ratings.

In reaction to the amended legislation, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and Executive Director of MomsRising, issued the following statement:

“The latest Republican plan to obliterate the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a plan that would make health insurance less affordable, less accessible, and less comprehensive is— yet again— a dangerous step in the wrong direction.  If enacted, fewer people would be covered and those who do have insurance would have weaker protections at significantly higher costs. The moms of America aren’t fooled. The MacArthur amendment just makes bad legislation worse, bringing us back to the pre-ACA days whenre insurance companies didn’t have to provide essential health benefits and where they could charge women and people with pre-existing conditions more money.”

“Essential health benefits are critical for the whole health of families and include services like maternity care, mental health services, preventive care, and prescription drug coverage.  

“The MacArthur Amendment also does nothing to change the fact that the American Health Care Act sets the stage for deep, punitive, permanent cuts to Medicaid in just a few years, which would cause grave harm resulting in rationing care for some of the most vulnerable people in our country: Black, Latinx, Asian, Native American, LGBTQ+, and low-income families; as well as pregnant women, people with disabilities, rural communities, and the elderly. The Republican plan would allow insurance companies to raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs, especially for seniors.

“The only winners would be the wealthy., and the losers, as too often is the case, would be women, communities of color, people with pre-existing conditions, and all those who already struggle to pay for health coverage and care.  

“In March, Democrats and many Republicans stood up against this attack on America’s health, promising that they would not vote for a health care bill that reduced coverage and increased costs for their constituents.  If they are serious about that promise, they’ll vote against this bill too.  The moms of America are watching.”