Majority of Americans want to see GOP Replacement plan before any vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act

BOSTON, MA — Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst, denounced Congress’s introduction of a budget resolution to pave the way for repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

“Today, with the introduction of the budget resolution, Congressional Republicans have set the wheels in motion to strip health coverage away from 30 million people. This is the first step in Congressional leadership’s rush to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with no replacement – a cynical political maneuver that would hit those who can least afford it the hardest: seniors, children, people with chronic health conditions and working families.

“A vote for repeal of the ACA without a replacement would result in tens of millions of people losing their health coverage – doubling the number of uninsured children in America – and increase taxes on people who purchase their own health insurance. It is an unprecedented assault not only on the economic security of working families but also on the financial stability of our health care system and state budgets.

“Such sweeping changes are unacceptable to Americans. Large majorities of voters in both parties support tax credits for people who are ineligible for employer-sponsored coverage and allowing states to expand their Medicaid programs. The American people agree that before tearing anything down, Congress should show us their plan for what they are going to put in its place. They want assurance that any replacement would provide better, more affordable care, coverage, and consumer protections than the ACA. 

“We urge members of Congress to listen to their constituents’ and to put people’s health and financial security ahead of politics. They should vote against any effort to repeal the ACA until they have a better alternative to put in its place.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Read our blog at http://blog.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.