On Eve Of ACA Anniversary, Schatz Condemns Republican Efforts To Take Away Americans’ Health Care, Highlights Progress Under Democrats

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today criticized a new Republican budget proposal which would cut and weaken Medicare and roll back the Affordable Care Act, leaving tens of millions of Americans – including seniors, young people, and people with pre-existing conditions – without health care or paying exorbitant insurance premiums and prescription drug costs. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schatz underscored the disastrous consequences of the proposals if enacted, and highlighted Democratic efforts to protect and expand health care access since the passage of the Affordable Care Act 14 years ago this week.

“If Republicans have their way, millions of people will lose their health care. Seniors and people with pre-existing conditions will be forced to pay outrageous out-of-pocket costs just to get life-saving procedures and medications. Young people will be kicked off their parents’ health plans immediately. Women across the country will be forced to carry doomed pregnancies to term,” said Senator Schatz.

Schatz continued, “It's no wonder that, more than a decade later, the ACA continues to grow in popularity and is setting new records every year for enrollment. Why? Because people actually like having health care. Republicans, Democrats, independents, voters, not voters – everybody basically thinks we should have a system that treats you humanely if you’re sick.”

Schatz has been leading efforts to expand health care for all Americans. Today, he reintroduced the State Public Option Act which would allow states to create a Medicaid buy-in program for all residents regardless of income, giving everyone the option to enroll in a state-driven Medicaid health insurance plan. State public option programs have been shown to lower costs, increase consumers’ choice in plans, and improve equity in coverage. Several states – including Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico – are currently exploring creating a Medicaid buy-in option.

“Health care is a necessity and not a luxury, and it shouldn't be something that the political parties argue about,” Schatz said in closing. “In the richest country in human history, having it should not depend on your job or your economic status. It ought to be available and accessible and affordable to everybody. The vast majority of Americans agree, but there's only one party today fighting to make it a reality.”

The full text of Senator Schatz’s remarks is below. Video of his remarks are available here.

Earlier this week some Republicans, I think the Republican study committee of 170 House members, released their plans for governing next year. And here are some of the things on their health care wish list. Ending Medicare as we know it, which would drive up costs and threaten care for seniors. Trying again, I think we're now on to 50 attempts, to gut the Affordable Care Act, leaving tens of millions of Americans without coverage overnight and punishing people with pre-existing conditions. And banning abortions, IVF, and contraception in every single state through bills, quote, “designed to advance the cause of life.” If budgets are a statement of values, then Republicans are making no secrets of theirs. Less access to quality health care and less control over their personal health.

There's no reason not to take them at their word, other than that if we take them at their word you sort of sound like you're exaggerating. That's the problem. What they're proposing is so outlandish that it sounds like, as a Democrat and someone who wants my point of view to win the day, it sounds like I'm exaggerating their point of view. I actually had to read this stuff from the Republican study group, and they are way out of the mainstream. Way out of the mainstream. Again, no reason not to take them at their word, because in Congress and state houses across the country, Republicans say what they want to do, then they do it. It doesn't matter how cruel these policies are, how unpopular their positions are. They have not been able to show any restraint whatsoever when it comes to enacting this extreme agenda – and it is extreme.

Millions of Americans are left to endure the disastrous consequences of this crusade every day. If Republicans have their way, millions of people will lose their health care, seniors and people with pre-existing conditions will be forced to pay outrageous out-of-pocket costs just to get lifesaving procedures and medications, and young people will be kicked off of their parents' plan immediately. Women across the country will be forced to carry doomed pregnancies to term. Families trying to start a family will have one less option, at least, with IVF not even available to them.

This is not what we should be fighting for. We have to work to get more people covered, because high-quality, low-cost health care should not be a luxury to some. And frankly, and I believe this, there's going to be a point where we don't fight about health care anymore. There's going to be a point at which Republicans realize that taking away people's health care, people's autonomy as it relates to their own bodies is just an electoral loser. We're getting there on Obamacare. I thought we had gotten there after multiple attempts to repeal it. But here they are again, trying to start that effort again. Democrats are focusing on lowering premium and prescription drug costs so getting health care doesn't bankrupt people. Even the Republicans in Washington and across the country, as they try to control women by dismantling reproductive freedoms, Democrats are fighting to codify Roe into federal law.

Democrats have done more than just give speeches about health care. We've actually delivered. It was 14 years ago we passed the Affordable Care Act, which since has helped more than 40 million Americans get their coverage and improved health outcomes for so many people -- women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, people in rural communities. It's no wonder that, more than a decade later, the ACA continues to grow in popularity and is setting new records every year for enrollment. Why? Because people actually like having health care. Republicans, Democrats, independents, voters, not voters – everybody basically thinks we should have a system that treats you humanely if you're sick.

It hasn't stopped Republicans from trying again and again to repeal it through Supreme Court cases, executive orders, and legislation. They have failed every time. Meanwhile, Democrats continue to build on the ACA's progress, including recently with the Inflation Reduction Act and American Rescue Plan, because there are tax credits and other measures in those bills that enable millions of Americans to save an average of $800 a year on premiums. The number of uninsured is at an all-time low. The reason for that is legislation that we fortunately passed, but we unfortunately did not have a single Republican vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, for the American Rescue Plan, or for the Affordable Care Act. For the first time ever, people with Medicare pay less for insulin, which is now capped at $35, saving money on a whole range of other prescription drugs. This is what progress looks like.

There are still millions of Americans, especially in the middle class, who don't get coverage through work but make too much to qualify for subsidies. They deserve coverage too. The State Public Option Act, which I'm reintroducing today, bridges that gap. It provides a public option to anyone who wants health insurance by allowing states to create a program not based on income. These programs have shown to lower costs, increase consumers' choice in plans, and improve equity in coverage. Several states including Maine, Minnesota, and New Mexico already are exploring creating exactly this kind of buy-in approach. The State Public Option Act would help other states to follow suit.

The bottom line is this: health care is a necessity and not a luxury, and it shouldn't be something that the political parties argue about. In the richest country in human history, having it should not depend on your job or your economic status. It ought to be available and accessible and affordable to everybody. The vast majority of Americans agree, but there's only one party today fighting to make it a reality.

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