PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills released the following statement after the Supreme Court announced that it would hear Trump’s Texas v. Azar lawsuit that could dismantle the Affordable Care Act:
“Time and again, Donald Trump has broken his promise to protect the health care of everyday Pennsylvanians. He already tried to repeal the ACA with no replacement, and now his lawsuit risks undermining the entire law this year. With hospitals closing around Pennsylvania the coronavirus on our shores, we are facing a national health crisis in this country — and he’s still trying to take away your family’s health care. It’s shameful, disastrous, and ineffective leadership. Unlike Trump, Pennsylvania Democrats care about the well-being of you and your family. That’s why we’re working around the clock to defeat him this November.”
If Donald Trump succeeds in striking down the rest of the Affordable Care Act:
* Protections for people with preexisting conditions will be gone. 5.3 million Pennsylvanians who have preexisting conditions would no longer be protected against insurers who could otherwise charge them more or deny them coverage entirely because of their medical history.
* About 21 million Americans could lose coverage, including 858,000 in Pennsylvania.
* Insurers would no longer be required to provide coverage for essential health benefits, which include things like prescription drugs, substance abuse treatment, hospitalization, and maternity care. They could also go back to the days when they were able to charge women more than men.
* Medicare beneficiaries would incur increased costs for preventive care and prescription drugs. While the ACA gradually closed the Medicare Part D “donut hole” that affected millions of seniors, overturning the law would reopen the coverage gap.
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