‘Incomplete’ CBO score confirms cost of Graham-Cassidy-Heller is too high

Planned Parenthood: “This last-ditch effort is putting the whims of a few politicians over the health and lives of millions.”

WASHINGTON, DC – The just released preliminary Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller bill makes it clear that the cost of this legislation is too high. CBO estimates that Graham-Cassidy-Heller cuts Medicaid by $1 trillion through 2026, stating that "millions of additional people would be uninsured." The score confirms that under the unpopular and widely criticized Graham-Cassidy-Heller, Americans will pay more and get less.

Notably, the score is missing several key elements that are essential to understanding its impact on Americans. In a rush to meet a Sept. 30 deadline, Senate leaders are attempting to jam this dangerous legislation through Congress, skirting regular order and any real ability to hear from impacted Americans. Specifically, today’s score does not include:

• Estimates of coverage losses, which the Center for American Progress estimates could top 32 million people; however, the CBO confirm that “millions would lose comprehensive coverage;”

• Estimates on premium cost even though a previous CBO score found that repealing key provisions of the ACA would increase premiums at least 20 percent.  

Quote from Dana Singiser, Vice President of Government Relations, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

The preliminary CBO score reaffirms what we knew: the cost of the Graham-Cassidy-Heller bill is just too high. This bill is the worst bill we’ve seen for women’s health in a generation: it would leave millions uninsured, would allow insurance companies to drop coverage for birth control, would put maternity coverage for 13 million women at risk, and would prohibit millions of women from coming to Planned Parenthood for preventive care.

“This rushed Senate process is endangering the health and lives of millions of people. It’s crystal clear to anyone paying attention that this is not the transparent process that was promised. We call on Senate leaders to listen to health care experts and the American people, and reject this dangerous bill.

The Graham-Cassidy-Heller bill is the worst version of Obamacare repeal we’ve seen yet -- and it’s especially devastating to women’s health. It would allow insurance companies to no longer cover birth control at all, would leave at least 32 million people without health insurance, could leave 13 million women without maternity care, would allow insurers to charge women about $17,320 more for giving birth and $28,660 more for having breast cancer, and would prevent millions of people with Medicaid coverage from getting basic health care at Planned Parenthood.

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.