Leaders in Congress have managed to take a bad health care proposal and make it even worse in the U.S. House of Representatives measure that was leaked today. This is yet another heartless attempt to appease extreme members of the conservative right, without regard for what is best for mothers, families, and our economy. Not only does this new proposal fix none of the problems in the earlier version of the American Health Care Act, but the MacArthur amendment would explode premiums for people with pre-existing conditions, pushing coverage out of reach for those who most need it, as well as repeal the requirement that insurers provide essential health benefits, eliminating critical services for women and families like maternity care, mental health care, and even prescription drugs. Both would do grave harm to the most vulnerable members of our society and make us a less healthy nation.
 
The GOP is trying to push through a bill that would push our nation backwards, to the days when women could be charged more than men for their coverage, plans could impose devastating annual and lifetime limits on coverage, and insurers could discriminate against people based on their medical histories.
 
This legislation would make health care less affordable, less accessible and less comprehensive for the families that need it most, benefitting only the extremely wealthy, insurance companies and Republicans who are looking to score political points by repealing the Affordable Care Act, without regard to the impact on our nation’s families. It would also deny essential preventive services to millions by defunding Planned Parenthood.
 
It cannot be ignored that this proposal is terrible for our economy and country, and particularly terrible for women, families and all those who struggle to pay for health coverage. It would have an even more destructive impact on low-income families, people with disabilities, those living in rural and other medically underserved communities, the elderly, and Black, Latinx, Asian, Native American and LGBTQ+ communities. The U.S. House must reject it immediately.
 
Moms will fight back and demand that Congress protect our health care and put the interests of families ahead of their political agenda. The grassroots resistance will continue.