U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement about President Trump’s ongoing intentional sabotage to the health care of hardworking American families and resulting increase in costs:

“President Trump’s intentional sabotage to our health care is costing American families huge sums.  Health insurance premiums are going up in Florida and many other states largely because Trump personally decided not to stabilize the health insurance marketplace.  Now he is insisting that health insurance plans not cover contraceptives.  The President's sabotage of affordable health care for working Americans is cruel, misguided and costly,” U.S. Rep. Castor said.

Florida families who do not receive tax credits for their individual policy likely will feel the pain according to insurers and regulators in Florida.  News reports today also detail Trump’s personal denial of cost-saving plans in other states as well.  A request for a waiver made by Iowa to stabilize its health care marketplace was personally denied by the President when he directed the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to flatly reject it, imperiling many of the state’s consumers who rely on the marketplace.

“In another outrageous move today, the Trump administration ordered insurance plans to end coverage for contraceptives, thereby forcing women and families to pay more.  It is a costly move that likely will lead to a higher number of unintended pregnancies.  Families, doctors and health professionals already have expressed concern and together we will fight to defend coverage for birth control and not go backward.

“The President’s latest actions come on the heels of news that his administration is making massive cuts to outreach and health care ‘navigators’ across the country.  Here in Florida, local hospitals, community health centers and seasoned veteran navigators at USF have led the nation in ACA enrollment in the healthcare.gov marketplace.  While the state did not fare as badly as others in the navigator grant cuts, the significant cuts to enrollment advertising and outreach will leave too many families in the lurch, especially families in Florida.”

The enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act this year also was intentionally shortened by the Trump Administration, Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.  Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has shown no interest in bipartisan discussions in the Congress to stabilize health care premiums and lower costs.  And despite Trump’s early mention of lowering the cost of drugs, he has taken no action on that front to the detriment of the pocketbooks of hardworking families.

U.S. Rep. Castor serves as Vice Ranking Member of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee, and helped to draft the Affordable Care Act to ensure it works for families and businesses.  Since ACA enrollment started in 2013, Florida has led the nation in the number of sign-ups on healthcare.gov – last year 1.7 million Floridians enrolled in the Affordable Care Act.

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