AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders today warned of dire consequences to working families after President Donald Trump said he would end critical subsidy payments to health insurers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The subsidies help working people and small business owners afford health insurance.
“Americans will go broke, get sicker or worse because of this decision,” Saunders said in a statement. “There is no reasonable justification for the president to have taken this action.” Trump threatened to end subsidy payments for months while pressuring Congress to repeal the ACA.
In addition, Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that may lead to the sale of cheaper “junk” insurance policies with fewer benefits and weaker consumer protections. This move will likely raise costs for sick people and destabilize insurance markets.
“The president has ushered in the era of Trumpcare, under which Americans will have fewer coverage choices and face skyrocketing premium costs,” Saunders said. “By sabotaging the health care system just as open enrollment is set to begin, the president has all but guaranteed that insurers will abandon the market, and working families will bear the brunt of the pain.”
Saunders urged Congress to prevent sabotaging the ACA by passing “legislation that builds on the progress made through the Affordable Care Act.”
AFSCME members worked hard to defeat efforts by Congress to repeal the ACA. We must stand up again to tell Congress to protect our healthcare system, this time from the president’s sabotage.