Senate Doubles Down on Life-Threatening Budget Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate Finance Committee released today its sections of the budget reconciliation bill, covering the tax and health care portions of the bill that passed the House last month. The Senate bill doubles down on the House version which, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), would result in $793 billion cuts to Medicaid and cause nearly 11 million people to become uninsured with no other affordable health insurance options. No one is safe from the harms that this bill will cause, not even cancer patients. 

Like the House bill, the Senate proposal also weakens protections in the state and private insurance market. It shortens the time people have to enroll in coverage, changes how out-of-pocket costs are calculated, and removes subsidies that help families afford premiums and deductibles on Marketplace plans.  

The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN): 

“Despite hopes that Senators would work to minimize the deadly impact of this bill, the Senate language advances actions that put health care out of reach for more Americans. 

“If passed and implemented, these cuts and provisions designed to dismantle access to health coverage will, as projected, increase the number of uninsured people nationwide, raise overall health care costs and negatively impact state budgets. This bill attains savings by terminating health coverage for millions, impacting cancer patients by ripping away lifesaving treatment for individuals living with cancer, including children, force millions to delay cancer screenings leading to later stage diagnoses, and increase health care costs for everyone.  

“Research tells us time and time again that access to health insurance is one of the most significant predictors in surviving a cancer diagnosis. ACS CAN is urging Senators to remove these harmful cuts to health care programs before this bill comes to the floor. This bill will undo more than a decade of progress in decreasing uninsured rates nationwide and improving cancer outcomes. It cannot be overstated that this will result in more suffering and death from cancer.  

“ACS CAN urges the Senate to hear the voices of their constituents calling on them to protect access to health insurance for those with no other affordable health care options and vote against any cuts to Medicaid in any form and any proposals that would make it more unaffordable to access Marketplace or private insurance plans. Lives are truly on the line.”