Ahead of Donald Trump’s fundraiser at his country club in Bedminster, New Jersey today, Democratic National Committee spokesperson Will Baskin-Gerwitz released the following statement:

“Donald Trump today will tell his supporters in Bedminster that he’s making America great again, while back in Washington his administration will be preparing for their Supreme Court case to dismantle our health care system. If Trump has his way, more than 133 million Americans who have diabetes, survived cancer, or contracted COVID-19 could be denied access to health care due to their pre-existing conditions or see their premiums skyrocket because Trump doesn’t have a replacement plan. That’s not making America great, it’s making America broke.”

BACKGROUND ON TRUMP’S ATTACK ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

On November 10, the Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments in the Trump Administration’s latest effort to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. If the Trump administration succeeds, it will jeopardize health care for more than 20 million  Americans and eliminate protections for as many as 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions, including as many as 8.6 million New Yorkers and over 3.8 million New Jerseyans.

In the midst of a global pandemic, the ACA is one of our most critical tools.

  • Comprehensive Coverage: The ACA established what are known as “essential health benefits,” mandating coverage of services like prescription drugs and hospitalization. Coronavirus testing and treatment are essential health benefits and must be covered by all ACA-compliant plans.

  • Access To Critical Vaccinations Without Cost Sharing: Once a coronavirus vaccine is developed, the Affordable Care Act will almost certainly cover the coronavirus vaccine without cost-sharing, because it requires plans to cover all vaccinations recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

  • Protections For As Many As 133 Million Americans With Preexisting Conditions: Under the ACA, insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against those with preexisting conditions by denying them coverage or charging higher rates

  • Coverage for 20+ Million People: Because of the ACA, more than 20 million Americans gained health coverage. People with insurance are much more likely to see a doctor when they are sick and to get the treatment they need.

  • Increased CDC Funding: The Affordable Care Act established the CDC Prevention and Public Health Fund, which helps states prepare for disease outbreaks.

  • Medicaid Expansion: Because of the ACA, states can get additional federal money to expand Medicaid to vulnerable populations. More than 17 million Americans now have coverage through Medicaid expansion. Importantly, Medicaid’s funding structure allows funds to increase in response to a public health emergency like coronavirus.

  • Key Support For Rural Hospitals: The ACA significantly reduced uncompensated care costs. Between 2013 and 2015, hospitals’ uncompensated care costs decreased by $12 billion, or roughly 30 percent. As hospitals face an influx in coronavirus patients, it is critical that they are paid for the treatment they provide.

Trump will keep lying to Americans about protecting their health care — but he has already broken his biggest health care promises.

  • Fewer Americans Covered: Trump promised that whoever “wanted health care” would have it under his administration, but fewer Americans had health insurance last year before the pandemic hit, and the Trump-backed lawsuit could cause more than 20 million Americans to lose their insurance.

  • Rising Health Care Costs: Trump promised he would put a stop to rising health care costs and even reduce them — but his lawsuit would raise out-of-pocket costs for premiums and prescription drugs.

  • No Preexisting Condition Protections: Trump promised to support preexisting condition protections and said that costs for people with preexisting conditions would be “much lower” under his leadership — but his lawsuit would end these vital protections.

  • Gutting Medicaid Access: Trump promised to protect Medicaid — but his lawsuit would end access to Medicaid for millions of Americans enrolled through the ACA’s expansion program.

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