On Day of Oral Arguments on ACA, Rep. TJ Cox Condemns Administration’s Sabotage of Health Care System

TJC on house floor speech
July 9, 2019
Press Release

Representative TJ Cox released the following statement today,  as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments for the Republican-backed Texas v. U.S. lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act:

“In 2018, the people of the Central Valley made it clear that they wanted a Congress committed to defending the quality, affordable health care that they rely on,” said Rep. TJ Cox. “While Republicans continue mobilizing to dismantle protections provided by the Affordable Care Act, my Democratic colleagues and I are fighting tooth-and-nail to preserve protections for preexisting conditions, because no American should be denied care. 

“We need meaningful healthcare reform that gives every single American access to high quality, affordable coverage. Instead of working with Congress to tackle rising costs and prescription drug prices, the Trump Administration is turning its back on those who need it most. This is unacceptable.”

If the Trump Administration gets its way, the health and financial well-being of families in the Central Valley and throughout California will be devastated:

  • In CA-21, it would mean over 92,000 people without coverage. 

  • It would lead to a 110 percent increase in the uninsured rate. 294,000 California young adults with their parents’ coverage could lose care. Because of the Affordable Care Act, millions of young adults are able to stay on their parents’ care until age 26. 

  • This would also disproportionately impact 16.7 million people in California with pre-existing conditions including 8,353,000 women and girls, 2,171,900 children, and 262,100 seniors. This is the largest impact across all states.* 

  • 15,867,909 Californian’s would lose coverage for preventative care.* 

  • It also threatens increased premiums for hard working families and would create an “Age Tax” on adults over 50 whereby they are charged three to five times more than younger people.* 

  • 403,631 California Seniors Could Have to Pay More for Prescription Drugs.* 

  • 1,222,169 Californians in the marketplaces may pay more for coverage.* 

  • If Trump gets his way, Medicaid Expansion would be repealed: 

  • 3,809,900 Californians enrolled through Medicaid Expansion could lose coverage if the program is repealed.* 

  • Access to treatment would be in jeopardy for 800,000 people with opioid use disorder: Roughly four in ten, or 800,000 people with an opioid use disorder are enrolled in Medicaid. Many became eligible through Medicaid expansion.* 

  • Key support for rural hospitals, including the 3 hospitals left in the 21st District, would disappear, leaving California hospitals with $8 billion more in uncompensated care.* 

*Source: Protect our Care 

 

Issues: 
Health Action Center