Press Release: GOP Repeal Bill Strips Health Care from Millions to Finance $600 Billion Tax Giveaway to Corporations, and 1%

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For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 4, 2017

Contact: Gary Zuckett, garyz at wvcag.org (304) 346-5891

GOP Repeal Bill Strips Health Care from Millions

to Finance $600 Billion Tax Giveaway to Corporations, and 1%

Below is a statement from Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of West Virginia Citizen Action Group, on the House vote to pass the American Health Care Act:

“Today’s vote is a shameful display of partisan politics at its worst. Despite unprecedented outrage from constituents, all three of our Congressmen voted to take health care away from 184,000 West Virginians, short-change Americans with pre-existing conditions, slash Medicaid, and raise health care costs for all families to give over $600 billion in tax cuts to the very wealthy and big insurance and drug companies.

“This bill would take us back to the days when insurance companies made all the rules. It would eliminate any requirement that insurers cover basic health benefits like addiction treatment, preventive services, and maternity care. It lets insurers charge people with pre-existing conditions whatever they want. It allows women and older people to be charged more than men and young people. Plus, it radically restructures Medicaid, over time cutting services to seniors, children, and people with disabilities and shifting huge financial burdens to our state’s budget which is already in crisis.”

“The West Virginia House delegation’s vote is indefensible. In supporting this bill, Representatives Alex Mooney, David McKinley, and Evan Jenkins have proven they are willing to play politics with West Virginians’ care, including the 250,000 people in each of their own districts with pre-existing conditions who will struggle to afford coverage and get care under this bill.

“The President and the Republicans said their proposal would cover everybody and reduce costs. Instead, it takes health care away from at least 24 million Americans, raises costs, guts consumer protections from insurance company abuses, leaves Americans with pre-existing conditions at the whim of insurance companies, and makes radical, permanent cuts to Medicaid. The Republican repeal bill doesn’t improve America’s health care – it wrecks it.”

“Senators Capito and Manchin should reject this bill.”

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