Brady convenes hearing on rising healthcare premiums under Affordable Care Act

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) explored the impact of rising healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act during a Ways and Means Committee hearing he convened on Tuesday.

Brady, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that millions of Americans have seen the cost of healthcare increase while quality and choice have reached new lows.

“The truth about this law is that it has never expanded access to affordable, high-quality health care of an individual’s choosing – and it never will,“ Brady said.

Median proposed premiums are expected increase by an average of 19 percent next year, which would mark the second year in a row that premiums have increased by double-digit amounts, according to the Council for Affordable Health Coverage.

“Health costs are too high and rising too fast,” Brady said. “In fact, costs continue to rise faster than the economy, while premiums are increasing about three times faster than wages. As a result, by 2030 the typical family will spend more than 50 percent of their income on health care.”

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA), a doctor and a member of the committee, said that less choice, information and control is disastrous for health care.

“I think it’s truly pathetic,” Boustany said. “I’m upset, I’m angry about what has happened to my beloved profession: medicine. And at the same time, as a patient, the husband of a patient, the father of patients, I’m really worried about what this is doing.”

Boustany added that the president has imposed more taxpayer liability on top of higher premiums, higher copays and more out-of-pocket expenses.

U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, said real people are experiencing problems with their health care who didn’t have problems before.

“We’ve created new problems because of the health care bill – all maybe unintentionally by the way,” Tiberi said. “Let me tell you about (one couple) from Westerville, Ohio. They worked their entire lives. They both retired, and since the Affordable Care Act has passed, they’ve experienced 75 percent – 75 percent – increase in premiums.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), a member of the committee, said that some people could face up to a 40 percent increases in their insurance premiums.

“At the end of the day, somebody still has to pick up the tab on it,” Kelly said. “The answer is hardworking American taxpayers… We are putting such a heavy burden on the private sector right now and the people that provide this —(I know) because I’m one of them. I provide that for the people I work with.”

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) said that Premera Blue Cross and LifeWise Health Plan of Washington recently announced that they would withdraw from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange in 12 counties across the state.

“The result is thousands of my constituents will lose their health plan and be forced into another, whether they like it or not,” Reichert said. “Or, they will be taxed for failing to sign up for a health care plan.”

Brady concluded that people across the country want the certainty of knowing they will have access to the care they need when they need it.

“This is what Americans deserve, and it’s what our committee will keep fighting to deliver,” Brady said.

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