WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement in response to Republicans’ latest attempt to rush legislation repealing the Affordable Care Act through Congress:
"Once again, New Mexicans find themselves on the wrong end of a disastrous Trump/Republican health care bill. Written behind closed doors and negotiated in secret, the latest TrumpCare bill will eviscerate Medicaid, strip health care away from millions, and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions—all in order to give a tax break to the wealthiest Americans.
"Instead of listening to the American people and working on bipartisan solutions to improve coverage, Republicans in Congress are once again pushing a plan that makes Americans worse off. The Graham-Cassidy bill would end Medicaid as we know it, jeopardizing the health care of 900,000 New Mexicans. It would cut $1.35 billion in federal health care funding for our state by 2026 and even deeper cuts after that, imperiling our state’s hospitals, clinics, and health care workers—as well as the families who rely on them for needed care. It would raise premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for people on the individual market, making everyday medical expenses more unaffordable for New Mexico families. And it would strip protections for people with pre-existing conditions, meaning big insurance companies could go back to charging more for people who are sick – as much as $17,320 for pregnancy, $5,600 for diabetes and over $142,650 for certain cancers. We can’t go back to the days when millions of families are one serious illness away from financial ruin.
“New Mexicans are fed up with their care being threatened and having to worry about whether they will be able to afford health insurance for their family. This latest attack is no better than the earlier versions of TrumpCare. Taking care away from millions is unacceptable. Republicans need to stop playing politics and start listening to the American people."
