Ways and Means Committee Members representing Americans from across the country are sharing their constituents’ ObamaCare stories and experiences of dropped coverage, increased costs and reduced hours. Below are just a few of the stories Americans are sharing with Ways and Means Members about how the law is affecting them.
INCREASED COSTS
Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX) highlighted the problems saying:
“A single father and police officer in Plano, TX went to renew his 11 year-old daughter’s insurance plan. She has no medical problems, yet her premiums doubled. Doubled! These are real stories of fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have to live with a law that up to now has completely failed them.”
Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) received comments on how the health law is increasing costs for constituents:
Brad from Texas wrote in saying: “We are a family of three that paid $753 a month for health insurance when ObamaCare was enacted. We are now paying $1,117 a month for the same plan, a 48% increase. I do not see where the cost of health care is addressed… just more people using a system with ever-increasing costs.”
Congresswoman Diane Black (R-TN) highlighted the effects increased costs are having on her constituents:
Jessica from Tennessee wrote in: “I am a 27 year-old college student working on my degree in engineering. Since I am over 26, I cannot be covered under my mother’s insurance. At the moment I do not have insurance and use the health clinic available to me on campus. With the implementation of ObamaCare, I will be placed into a position where I cannot afford any insurance at all and am being forced to pay a fine for not having insurance.”
Lillian from Tennessee wrote in: “My premium tripled, and the cost of one of my prescriptions tripled. I am retired and on a fixed income so the impact on me is enormous.”
A family from Kansas told Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS):
“The cost of my insurance went up more than 80 percent. This year, my insurance is only costing $81 per person for me and my wife. We were told our current plan will be no longer available next year, and my new plan will be more than $140 per month, and my wife’s plan will be more than $100 per month.”
Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR) heard how increased costs are hurting small businesses:
Kenny from Arkansas: “My health insurance costs for the new policy for my small business went up 18.5%. We could not afford to pay the new rate and medical bills. We dropped health insurance for myself, my family, and my employee.”
Congressman Erik Paulsen (R-MN) shared his constituents’ struggle with higher costs:
“I look at Tricia from Bloomington who says her rates are going up 30% in January… I’ve also heard from Susan and Roger, they like the plan they are on. The rates had been going up previously but now they are going up another 20% and the insurance company notes that a lot is due to regulations associated with the affordable care act. They looked at plans on the exchange as well and they are more expensive, not the coverage they want and also have concerns about keeping information private and they don’t qualify for subsidies as well.”
Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) shared:
“Diane from Illinois is a 57-year-old breast cancer survivor who received a letter from Blue Cross/Blue Shield that says that they’re unable to offer that coverage. Her rate increased from $363 a month to $713 a month, almost doubling.”
LOSING THE PLAN YOU HAVE AND LIKE
At a Ways and Means Committee hearing, Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) said:
“I just want to mention to you a letter that I received from my district, and this man wrote me and said, ‘My wife has been recently informed by her insurance carrier that her health care policy ‘does not comply with the Affordable Care Act.’ Now we must purchase a new policy to get the same coverage at an 18% increase in our premium. So, what happened to the ‘if you like your insurance, you can keep it?’”
Congressman Todd Young (R-IN) shared his constituent’s story:
“Mike from Indiana contacted my office recently about his current frustrations with this law. His current health insurance plan is being cancelled at the end of the year, which is counter to the President’s promise that he can keep the current health plan he likes. In addition, his monthly premium is increasing 280% ($500 to $1,400) – which is far from the $2,500 savings that was promised to him from the Administration.”
OBAMACARE CUTTING JOBS, HOURS, WAGES
One Ohioan shared with Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) that:
“My hours have been cut to 29.5 hours a week. I now cannot afford to pay my $515 insurance bill….I was paying for insurance myself after my husband died….Then my hours are cut to the point that I [am] no longer even close to pay[ing] for my health insurance.”
Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH) heard from constituents:
“An individual wrote in to say that he and several of his friends are small business owners. He specifically wrote, ‘We are all being hurt by the new healthcare law. When a small business is operating on slim margins, extra government mandated taxes can make the difference between staying in business, and throwing in the towel. Please do everything that you can, to not just amend, but totally repeal the new healthcare law.’
“Another gentleman wrote, that upon returning from a vacation he was told that his hours were going to be reduced from a full time 40+ hours a week to 30 or less, which for him would result in approximately 25% decrease in income.”
Congressman Tim Griffin (R-AR) heard from one job creator:
Cindy from Arkansas: “I have had to cut employee hours and pass on insurance premium increases. Furthermore, it is doubtful that my company will be in business this time next year.”
Congressman Todd Young (R-IN) heard from a constituent whose hours have been cut:
Mick in Indiana told Rep. Young that ObamaCare has cost him hours at work due to the law’s new definition of full-time employment and the employer mandate. Previously, he was working 28-36 hours a week and now can only work 16-24 hours per week.
Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) shared one constituent’s hardships:
“Riley is a college student paying for her own education, working part time at minimum wage at a local grocery store, paying what she calls ‘an affordable 70 dollars per month’ for health care coverage. Because of the Affordable Care Act, her hours at the store have already been reduced. Last month, Riley received a letter from her insurance provider notifying her that her health care plan will be canceled after another year, and that she’ll be forced to choose a plan that costs triple what she pays now.”
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