Dems: ACHA ‘cruel’ to NY state
Officials argue House bill would cost state $6.9B
ALBANY, N.Y. >> President Donald Trump scored a big win when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Obamacare repeal-and-replace bill, but Democrats say it promises to be an unmitigated disaster for New York state.
The American Health Care Act could cost New York $6.9 billion and ultimately result in untold numbers of people losing insurance coverage, state officials and legislators argue, including 635,000 people in the Essential Plan, which provides coverage for low-income workers who don’t qualify for Medicaid at an out-of-pocket cost of as little as $20 a month.
New York is one of only two states that signed up for that Obamacare program, which would be phased out by the AHCA. If New York wants to keep Essential Care, it would cost the state an estimated $3 billion a year.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the House bill “disastrous … reprehensible” and a “targeted as-
sault” to “punish” New York for being pro-abortion.
“Ultraconservatives in Washington have pushed through the House an unconscionable piece of legislation that threatens to tear apart our health care system,” Cuomo said. “Far from improving our health care, the Republican plan will strip millions of Americans of their coverage, raise costs for the sick, the elderly and those with preexisting conditions, and penalize progressive states that protect the rights of women.”
Cuomo also raged against another facet of the AHCA that calls for a $2.3 billion state takeover of Medicaid costs now shouldered by its 62 counties. One of the sponsors of that proposal is U.S. Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, who said he voted for the bill because Obamacare is headed for collapse and Democrats have offered no fix.
“Acknowledging [Obamacare’s] failures, the people’s representatives were faced with a choice: do nothing and watch millions of our citizens continue to be forced to buy insurance they cannot afford, or work together to improve a broken system,” Faso said. “Unfortunately, Democrats offered not a single alternative. They simply obstructed any changes to the ACA. I believe the American Health Care Act as amended addresses the concerns I have heard from residents, businesses, providers and insurers.”
“The American Health Care Act is not perfect, but it is an important step in reforming our broken healthcare system to help families in our district,” added U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, RWillsboro. “As this legislation moves to the Senate, I will continue to work to strengthen the support for those with pre-existing conditions.”
Rep. Claudia Tenney, RNew Hartford, also admitted the repeal-and-replace bill was not perfect, but there was no better alternative.
“As Obamacare teeters on the brink of collapse, marketplaces in states across
the nation continue to flee the exchanges, leaving patients with limited choices and unaffordable coverage options,” she said in a statement issued Thursday. “For a number of families across the 22nd District, premiums are higher than a house payment and deductibles are a third of a year’s salary, while families are left helpless as their insurance plans are abruptly cancelled without notice. Our families did not sign up for this.”
The bill now goes to the Senate, where it has an uncertain outlook.