- June 1, 2017
- Maine Center for Economic Policy
- Staff Report
Congressional efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would put health coverage at risk for tens of thousands of Mainers, increase costs for hundreds of thousands more, and reduce access to services in many communities. The House bill, the “American Health Care Act,” (AHCA) and the Senate bill, the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” ultimately have the same effect―less care for Mainers, in exchange for tax cuts for the wealthiest.
The House narrowly passed its ACA repeal proposal earlier this year. While the Senate said it would reject that plan and start from scratch, the reality is that the Senate plan closely mirrors the House plan. Both would reduce coverage for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children by cutting and capping Medicaid. Both would sharply increase insurance costs by raising premiums and deductibles and slashing existing tax credits. Both plans give states broad authority to eliminate consumer protections that help people with pre-existing conditions or who are in need of maternity care, mental health, or substance abuse services. Finally, both plans use the reductions in health coverage to pay for deep tax cuts for the wealthy, drug companies, and insurers.