Joe Baca: “I rise in opposition of H.R. 525 and the association health plans it creates. There are 44 million Americans who are…”

“I rise in opposition of H.R. 525 and the association health plans it creates. There are 44 million Americans who are uninsured in this country and this bill will not even affect 1 percent of them. Not 1 percent. CBO found that only 360,000 uninsured Americans would join AHPs. This bill in fact hurts those who enroll in the plans and will even cause healthcare costs to go up for many other Americans. There has to be a better way to help 44 million uninsured Americans. AHPs will not be accountable to State health regulations. This will leave consumers who enroll in these plans without protection or a right to appeal if their cancer or diabetes treatment or medicines are denied. We cannot let AHPs become bargain basement plans that enroll only the healthiest Americans. What will happen to our sick, elderly and those with severe health conditions? Twenty million Americans will face higher healthcare costs. Twenty million. Health insurers will give breaks to the AHPs and charge other consumers more. Studies show that these higher healthcare costs could cause up to 10,000 Americans to become insured. There is a better way to help small businesses and the uninsured. H.R. 525 will not help small businesses or their employees. This is a shortsighted plan that does nothing to cover the 44 million uninsured Americans who cannot afford to get sick.”