Washington, D.C. – Following Senate passage two days prior, the U.S. House of Representatives just passed a budget bill by a vote of 218 to 214 that contains the most devastating cuts to Medicaid in history and changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace that will make it more difficult and expensive to obtain and keep health insurance coverage. This reconciliation bill, which will soon be signed into law, is projected to cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and cause nearly 12 million people to become uninsured, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Meanwhile, an additional 4.2 million more people are projected to become uninsured if Congress doesn’t act to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. The budget bill’s deep cuts to Medicaid make it even more critical for Congress to extend the enhanced tax credits that help people afford coverage.
Following the House vote, Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), released the following statement, expressing deep disappointment and urging Congress to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits:
“Despite countless warnings that this bill will rip health coverage away from nearly 12 million people, including cancer patients and survivors, a majority in Congress voted for this unprecedented attack on access to health care. Terminating health coverage for cancer patients means delaying or even ending treatment. For others, it will mean putting off lifesaving cancer screenings, ultimately leading to later stage diagnoses when the disease is harder to treat and survive. No one is safe from the life-threatening consequences of this bill.
“The passage of this bill will undo decades of progress in the fight against cancer. Research has clearly shown that having health insurance is one of the most important factors in better cancer outcomes, and millions nationwide will now lose the only affordable health insurance coverage available.
“To avoid further coverage loss in 2026, Congress must take action now to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits that help people afford comprehensive health coverage on the Marketplace. Failing to extend these tax credits before they expire at the end of the year would pull the rug out from under millions more people, including cancer patients and survivors, leaving them with no quality, affordable health care options. Without access to the care needed to get well and stay well, people will live sicker and die sooner.”
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