Hoyer: Republican Efforts to Repeal the Affordable Care Act Will Have Devastating Consequences in the Fifth District

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Democrats on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Oversight and Government Reform released a new report detailing the impact repealing the Affordable Care Act will have on Maryland's Fifth District. Click here to see the report.

"Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act will have devastating consequences in the Fifth District," said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05). "Now that Republicans are in control of Congress and the White House, they alone are responsible for our health care system. The uncertainty caused by Republican disarray on health care policy is already sabotaging the nation's health care system. Continuing down this road will result in premium spikes and, in some cases, insurers withdrawing from the health insurance marketplaces in 2018. Instead of working to repeal the ACA, Republicans should work with Democrats to ensure more Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to protect access to health care for Fifth District residents, and for all Americans."

The report released today shows that thousands of Fifth District residents would be negatively impacted if Republicans repeal the Affordable Care Act without a real plan to replace it, including:

·         513,500 individuals with employer-based health coverage would lose consumer protections, such as the elimination of annual and lifetime limits;

·         432,700 individuals with health coverage that provides access to preventatives services without co-pays would lose access to those services;

·         21,900 individuals covered by the Medicaid expansion would lose their coverage;

·         13,800 individuals would lose coverage if Republicans dismantle Marketplaces; and

·         7,400 individuals who receive cost-sharing reductions would be at risk of having their health care become unaffordable.