Manchin Opposes Legislation that would Strip Health Care from More Than 200,000 West Virginians

Statement

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today voted against the reconciliation legislation that would repeal significant provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

"I have always said that this law is not perfect but we need to repair, not repeal it. It's reckless to repeal a law when, before it, we spent more than any other country on health care but still ranked only 43rd in the world in health and wellness. In 2015 alone, more than 29,000 West Virginians enrolled in health insurance on the Affordable Care Act exchange. Nationally, 11.7 million people signed up. According to one study, West Virginia has benefited more than any other state in the country except New York under the Affordable Care Act.

"The law has been effective in some ways, including expanding access to preventative care, protecting those with pre-existing conditions, and closing the Medicare Part D prescription drug donut hole, but the law also has many faults. That is why I have supported legislation to define a full-time work-week at forty hours instead of thirty, that grandfathers in existing plans that Americans are happy with, repeals the burdensome 1099 requirements on small businesses and fixes a technical error that unduly harmed volunteer firefighters. This repeal bill is irresponsible and will bring us back to the days when millions of Americans, including more than 200,000 West Virginians, lived without health insurance."

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