Planned Parenthood Slams Final Conference Tax Bill That Would Undermine the Affordable Care Act
For Immediate Release: Dec. 15, 2017
“Attacks on health coverage have no place in any legislation, especially not in a tax bill.”
Washington, D.C. - In response to the final conference tax bill released today that could result in 13 million people losing access to health care coverage, Planned Parenthood Action Fund released the following statement.
Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
GOP leaders are so hell-bent on undermining health care for millions of people that they are sneaking it into a tax bill. Attacks on health coverage have no place in any legislation, especially not in a tax bill.
“This is bad medicine, bad policy, and not what Americans want. Ultimately, women and their families will be hurt the most.
“After hundreds of thousands of people spoke out, made calls, visited offices, and shared their stories, it is unconscionable that GOP leaders are still trying to take insurance coverage away from millions.
“People across America have been clear: They oppose the congressional and Trump administration attacks on their access to affordable health care. By repealing this critical portion of the Affordable Care Act, millions of people’s premiums will rise.
“People across America need to continue to call their members of Congress and tell them Americans won’t stand for taking away access to care and increasing premiums.
The final conference tax bill includes a measure undoing a critical provision of the Affordable Care Act, a move that could result in 13 million people losing access to health care coverage. Thanks to the ACA, nearly 10 million women gained health care coverage and the number of uninsured women was cut nearly by half. This bill threatens to reverse that progress.
Repeal of the individual mandate was already rejected in the many versions of the ACA repeal bills – and was opposed by governors of both parties, health insurers, physicians, patient advocates, and experts.
In addition, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that premiums for plans in the individual market would increase by 10 percent without the individual mandate.
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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.