Background (Why did he vote YES???)
Rep. Sam Graves voted yes on the American Health Care Act.
That means Rep. Graves supported a bill that would slash Medicaid spending, roll back consumer protections built into the Affordable Care Act, force the closure of rural hospitals, and further destabilize the health insurance market, all while giving huge tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.
Every one of us who has insurance would be negatively affected by this bill. Why?
- Insurance companies could be allowed to opt out of covering essential health benefits such as emergency care, preventive care, and prescription drugs
- Insurance companies would be allowed to raise rates on people with preexisting conditions who have a lapse in coverage, making insurance many times more expensive than it already is.
- Out of pocket costs will continue to rise for all of us (insured and without insurance) as providers try to cover their costs.
- More rural hospitals will be forced to close.
- The opiod epidemic and meth problems will continue to grow as people with addictions lose access to treatment.
- More people will face bankruptcy and business closures due to healthcare debt.
