On the recordSeptember 13, 2016
Let's go through the latest of the ACA. I concur. More Americans have insurance today. Many have it through Medicaid. In my State, we tried to apply for a Medicaid waiver program that the administration denied. In my district, there are people who have Medicaid today, but that doesn't mean they have better health care. In fact, you could have insurance, but not have access to your doctor. You can have insurance, but not have access to the hospital where your doctor practices. That is an increasing problem throughout my district. You could have insurance, but the deductible is too high. You could have insurance, but the premiums are going up. In fact, the average proposed rate hike in the individual market is 24.3 percent. In the 17 States that have approved final rates for next year, the average increase is 26 percent. You are paying more oftentimes and getting less. That is an update that I haven't heard from the other side. Paying for it. Picking away at it. In December of 2015, just last year, this Congress voted in a bipartisan way to delay the medical device tax, to delay the excise tax on high cost employer health care plans, known as the Cadillac tax, delay the tax on health insurance, none of it paid for, and, oh, by the way, signed by President Barack Obama. Ladies and gentlemen watching today--Bob and Betty Buckeye in Ohio-- this must be a surreal debate that you are listening to.…
