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Congressman Evans Reacts to CBO Estimate that 14 Million Americans Could Lose Insurance Under new Healthcare Law

March 15, 2017

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Dwight Evans released the following statement after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reported this week that under the Republican health care law 14 million Americans stand to lose their health care in 2018.

"After weeks of twisting the story, Republicans now have to own up to the fact that their new health care law strips coverage from millions of Americans. We can now definitively say that the Republican repeal and replace health care law, will take coverage away from approximately 14 million Americans in 2018, and this number is estimated to rise to 24 million by 2026," Congressman Evans said. "A plan that takes coverage away from the poorest Americans, our seniors, people with pre-existing conditions and our working class families, is not a healthcare plan fit for the American people. I hope the CBO report is a rude awakening to House and Senate Republicans, and the Trump Administration and proves what we have long known to be true—the American people deserve health care that provides high level coverage at a reasonable cost."

Following the CBO cost estimate leading Republicans in both chambers have already come out against their party's new health care law. Representative Darrell Issa of California, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia have expressed concern about the bill.

According to a recent report from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 62,000 Philadelphians in the Second Congressional District covered by Medicaid expansion stand to lose their coverage under the new Republican health care law.

"The new Republican health care law will fundamentally alter our nation's Medicaid program as we know it. It aims to change Medicaid from an open-ended entitlement program to a program with a limited lens that sets a specific cost per person, without taking into account individual needs on a case by case basis. We need a health care plan that keeps the care in health care, not one that offers so-called short term fixes to those who need care the most."

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Media Contact: Becca Brukman, 202-225-4001, Becca.Brukman@mail.house.gov