January 11, 2017

Duckworth: When Your Coverage Is Cut and Your Costs Skyrocket, Think Back to This Vote

 

During late night Senate session, Duckworth worked to protect Veterans and working mothers from healthcare cost increases & reduced coverage

WASHINGTON, DC- After voting against legislation that could strip protections and health benefits hardworking Illinoisans rely on, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth issued the following statement:

"When I was sworn in as a U.S. Senator last week, I wanted to get to work-with people on both sides of the aisle-enacting policies that help hardworking Illinois families. I'm disappointed that this new Congress seems more interested in cutting health benefits and increasing out of pocket costs for millions of middle-class Americans than on creating good-paying jobs or strengthening our economy. I'm even more disappointed that the Republican majority has refused to be transparent with the American public about what their plans are for preventing coverage from being reduced or costs from skyrocketing."

"From this point forward, when your employer stops offering the coverage you need, when children and working Illinoisans lose the ability to visit their doctor, when insurers charge women more for the same coverage as men or refuse to cover those with pre-existing conditions at all, and when you have to pay more for worse health insurance, you should know that today's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act is the reason why. When the Medicare you've earned provides less of the care you need and becomes harder for you to afford, think back to this vote. This was the vote that ultimately reduced coverage and increased costs for Illinoisans of all backgrounds, across all income brackets, in every corner of our state. It's just irresponsible."

Duckworth also filed two amendments to protect Illinois Veterans and families from the many unintended consequences of the votes pushed through by Senate Republicans early this morning, which will cause countless Veterans, new mothers and working people to lose coverage and pay higher costs. One of Duckworth's amendments would have ensured no Veteran loses Medicaid coverage they now have and the other would have ensured new mothers don't lose access to the break time and lactation rooms that their employers currently provide them.