Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following the release of the “new” GOP health care bill:
“Instead of working in a bipartisan way, Senate Republicans have continued to meet in secret after the light of day showed their health care scheme to be a bad deal for our families and a bonanza for the super-rich. The latest version of this scheme does not change the fact that it still sells out the middle class, seniors, children and individuals with disabilities; Pennsylvania families will pay more for less health care coverage with fewer protections.
This scheme still includes an age tax which will cause workers in their 50s and 60s to pay more just because of their age. The bill still decimates Medicaid, which will result in cuts to nursing home care, cuts to services for those with disabilities and an end to health care coverage for millions. In rural Pennsylvania alone, over 100,000 people could lose coverage by 2018.
The revised Senate bill is more extreme than the last version because it includes a loophole to allow insurers to end protections for those with preexisting conditions and end coverage of basic medical services like maternity care. The latest Senate scheme is still a bailout for special interests and big health care interests. This bill would cut insurance coverage for millions of Americans and cause middle class families to pay more. Further, the bill still pulls the rug out from under those who need treatment for an opioid addiction. Those suffering from addiction and their families need coverage and long term quality treatment, not some grant. I will fight against this scheme with everything I have.”
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