Congressman Steven Horsford Releases Report Detailing Devastating Impact of Trump Administration’s Attack on ACA

Washington, D.C. -- Today, as the Trump Administration filed its brief with the Supreme Court asking the justices to strike down the Affordable Care Act, Congressman Horsford released a new report finding that such a ruling would cause 23 million Americans, including 309,000 Nevadans to lose their health insurance.

"Since my first day in Congress, I have been hard at work to defend and strengthen the Affordable Care Act – and in the middle of the historic health and financial security crisis of the coronavirus pandemic, affordable health care is more important than ever," said Congressman Horsford. "We should be building on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs, not ripping away every last benefit and protection that the law provides in the middle of a pandemic."

On the first day of this Congress, the new House Democratic Majority voted to intervene as a party in the lawsuit in order to defend people with pre-existing conditions. The House of Representatives filed its brief with the Supreme Court to defend and protect the Affordable Care Act in early May, and oral arguments on the case are expected in the fall of 2020.

If the Trump Administration succeeds in striking down the Affordable Care Act:

• GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions.
• GONE: Medicaid expansion, which covers 17 million people.
• GONE: Nearly 12 million seniors will have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare ‘donut hole' will be reopened.
• GONE: 2.3 million adult children will no longer be able to stay on their parents' insurance.
• GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women 50 percent more than men.
• GONE: Financial assistance that helps 9 million people purchase health care in the marketplace.
• GONE: Key support for rural hospitals. As Americans lose coverage, already struggling hospitals will be hit even harder as their costs increase.
• GONE: Ban on insurance companies having lifetime caps on coverage.
• GONE: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.

Earlier this week, Congressman Horsford joined his colleagues to introduce the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, legislation that builds on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs and prescription drug prices while reducing the ranks of the uninsured. For the first time, no person will have to pay more than 8.5 percent of their income on a silver plan in the marketplaces and many will see their premiums cut in half or more. A fact sheet on the bill is available here.