Washington, D.C. – March 13, 2017 – The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this afternoon released an estimate of the impact of the American Health Care Act on the number of insured individuals, compared to those covered under current law, as well as the potential cost implications for those individuals who remain covered. The CBO projects that under the House-proposed legislation the number of uninsured will increase by 14 million in 2018, 21 million by 2020 and then 24 million by 2026 relative to current law. In the end, CBO estimates that by the year 2026, an estimated 52 million Americans will be uninsured if the House bill passes, compared to 28 million Americans who are estimated to be uninsured under current law Those purchasing coverage in the individual market can expect average premiums to be 15 to 20 percent higher relative to current law in 2018 and 2019.
A statement from American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) President Chris Hansen follows:
“The CBO analysis confirms earlier projections that the legislation under consideration by the House to repeal portions of the health care law will dramatically reduce the number of individuals who have health insurance in this country.
“We are deeply concerned that cancer patients, survivors and those at risk of cancer who long faced barriers to adequate, affordable coverage may again find themselves unable to access coverage necessary to prevent and treat a disease that is expected to kill more than 600,000 people in America this year.
“While we acknowledge current law should be improved, the current House proposal takes us in the opposite direction -- threatening to eliminate the safety net coverage Medicaid provides for hard-working individuals who face an unexpected illness and reducing financial assistance for low- and middle-income families who may otherwise be unable to afford coverage. Proposed changes to coverage requirements could also result in increased cost-sharing and deductibles for many compared with current law.
“ACS CAN stands ready to work with lawmakers to find a solution that maintains patient protections and ensures meaningful, adequate coverage is available to prevent and treat cancer.”
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.