TO: Senate and House Democratic Caucus’
FR: Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
RE: GOP Plan to Cut Medicare, Medicaid and ACA Would Make America Sick Again
DA: 1/4/17

Following Congressional Democrats’ meeting today on Capitol Hill with President Obama,
please find below new guidance for your use regarding the Republicans’ plan to cut Medicare,
Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

GOP PLAN TO CUT MEDICARE, MEDICAID & ACA WOULD MAKE AMERICA SICK AGAIN
– FROM AFFORDABLE CARE TO CHAOS

Three days after his election, President-elect Donald Trump said the Affordable Care Act would
be repealed and replaced “simultaneously” and that “it’ll be great health care for much less
money.” Over the course of his campaign, the President-elect and Congressional Republicans
said that repealing and replacing health care reform would “Make America Great Again.”
Instead of fulfilling their promise to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act, Republicans
are going to make America sick again by offering no health care plan to the American people
and actually dismantling Medicare, Medicaid as well as the ACA. Congressional Republicans,
including President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services,
Representative Tom Price, are leading the charge. ​
Republicans want to unravel the guaranteed benefit of health care for seniors and people with
disabilities by privatizing Medicare and giving people vouchers to go find services and care.
Republicans also want to cut off federal assistance to states for providing health care to millions
of low income Americans through Medicaid by capping the amount of money a state can
receive.
Together, these 3 programs ensure that over 100 million Americans have access to health care,
and following through with their plans to repeal the ACA, privatize Medicare and cap Medicaid
would make America sick again and create chaos in our health care system.
TALKING POINTS
•
The Republican health care repeal bill will make America sick again by putting insurance
companies back in charge of health care, ripping health care away from 30 million people and
raising premiums.

 •
​ FROM CARE TO CHAOS:​ Republicans are ripping health care away from millions of
Americans and creating chaos throughout our whole economy. Independent experts say this
will take us back to the old days when insurance companies could discriminate against people,
like individuals with pre-existing conditions. Health care costs for all Americans will skyrocket at
the same time big corporations get a tax break.
BACKGROUND
Specifically, the Republicans’ irresponsible plan would:
•
Increase Health Care Costs: ​The Republican plan to repeal health care will increase
prescription drug costs, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs for American families.
•
Put Insurance Companies Back in Charge: T
​ he Republican plan will put big insurance
companies back in charge of Americans’ health care by repealing patient protections for every
American who has insurance. If Republicans have their way, they would take the country back
to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people, including individuals
with pre-existing conditions.
•
Cause Premiums to Skyrocket: ​According to independent experts, the Republican
proposal would cause premiums to spike for Americans across the country. [Urban Institute
12/6/16[urban.org]​; American Academy of Actuaries, 1
​ 2/7/16[actuary.org]​; Congressional
Budget Office, ​12/11/15[cbo.gov]​]
•​
Unravel the Insurance Market:​ Immediately following a Republican repeal of health care
reform, 4.3 million Americans would go uninsured. Because of the chaotic ripple effect of repeal,
an additional 7.3 million people would lose health coverage as the individual insurance market
nears collapse. ​In total, nearly ​30 million Americans would lose their insurance. [Urban
Institute, ​12/6/16[urban.org]​]
•
​ Damage Local Hospitals:​ Under the Republican plan, Health care providers, especially
rural hospitals, would suffer, losing millions of dollars and could be forced to shut their doors to
sick Americans. [American Hospital Association, 1
​ 2/6/16[aha.org]​; Modern Healthcare,
11/9/16[modernhealthcare.com]​]
•
Provide Tax Breaks for Millionaires: ​By repealing health care reform and ripping away
coverage from millions, Republicans would give billions in tax breaks to corporations and the
wealthy, while raising taxes on millions of middle-class Americans. [Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities, ​12/15/16[cbpp.org]​; Kaiser Family Foundation, 1
​ 2/5/16[kff.org]​]
•
Hurt Middle Class Families: ​Under the Republican proposal, older Americans would
once again be on their own to manage expensive health conditions while they wait to enroll in
Medicare. Women would lose access to preventive health care, including birth control.

 Americans with a mental health condition will be turned away from treatment and lose the newly
gained care and support they count on. Young adults would no longer be able to stay on their
parents’ plan until they’re 26.
•
Exacerbate the Opioid Epidemic: ​Repealing Medicaid expansion would rip coverage
away from an estimated 1.6 million newly insured individuals with substance use disorders.
[Health Affairs, ​12/16[content.healthaffairs.org]​]
###