Washington, D.C. – Bread for the World today urged the Senate to reject the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which was passed by the House of Representatives. The AHCA will take away health insurance from millions of Americans, including 14 million on Medicaid.
“The American Health Care Act will push millions of people into hunger and poverty,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “The AHCA takes away health insurance from tens of millions of Americans and drives up costs for millions more. This is not what Americans were promised.”
At least 24 million people would lose their health care coverage under the AHCA. The AHCA would cap state Medicaid funding and eliminate the Medicaid expansion. States would receive less money to cover children, the poor, the elderly, and the disabled, resulting in the rationing of health care. Approximately 68 million Americans receive health insurance through the Medicaid program.
The AHCA would also cut subsidies that have made it possible for millions of families to buy health insurance, and allow insurers to charge higher rates for those with pre-existing conditions. This would place the cost of health insurance out of reach for millions of families, especially the poor and elderly. Before the Affordable Care Act, 1 in 3 people with chronic medical conditions had to choose between paying for medical treatment and purchasing food for their family.
“Protecting Medicaid is a priority for the faith community,” Beckmann added. “The ‘fixes’ made to the AHCA do nothing to change the fact that millions of low-income Americans will lose their health coverage. Medical bills often drive families, especially those who struggle to make ends meet, into hunger and poverty. We strongly urge the Senate to reject this bill.”
