DeGette Statement Regarding Vote On Rep. Upton's Bill To Gut Affordable Care Act

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) issued the following statement regarding her vote against Rep. Fred Upton's (MI-06) bill, the so-called "Keep Your Health Plan Act." The bill undermines the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by allowing insurers to sell substandard plans to millions of new enrollees through 2014. Rep. DeGette today supported legislation that would enable enrollees receiving cancellation notices to continue those policies for a year or select more robust plans through the ACA.

"Let's not make any mistake; the Upton bill the House just voted on is just the latest effort by House Republicans to gut the ACA and leave millions of Americans without access to quality health care. All along the GOP has sought ways to undermine the Act, and in fact, just yesterday Speaker Boehner stated he wanted to "scrap this law once and for all.'

"While we are all concerned with Americans confronting canceled insurance policies, it is critical to remember these plans are being canceled because they do not meet the minimum standards required by the ACA.

"Many of the canceled policies have high deductibles and low caps, and when people with these plans actually need access to health care they often find themselves out in the cold, and potentially facing huge -- even bankrupting -- medical bills. Furthermore, these policies may discriminate against women and people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or cancer.

"Today I voted for a plan that would have enabled only those whose insurance has been canceled to retain their policies for a year, or, as they become better informed, move to better options for themselves and their families. That proposal is consistent with the President's plan announced yesterday. While this is not a perfect plan, it does address the immediate issue of a small group of Americans facing canceled insurance policies, while also enabling them to move to the ACA exchanges where they can, once and for all, get access to the better quality health care everyone deserves."

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