Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) pointed to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price’s admission that the Republican health care repeal would take America back to a health care system where a serious illness could bankrupt a family, and again called on Congress to work together to improve the Affordable Care Act, rather than repeal it. In an interview with ABC News, Secretary Price said that, under the Republican repeal bill, insurance companies would, “dust off how they did business before Obamacare.” In San Diego County, the uninsured rate has fallen from 17% to just 5% under implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Rep. Peters released the following statement:

“Secretary Price just admitted what has been clear from the beginning: this Republican repeal bill would take us back to a system where an unexpected illness could bankrupt a hardworking American family. While Republicans are failing in their reckless attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, hardworking American families are struggling with rising premiums and deductibles that would get worse, not better, under the Republican bill. 

“Last week, my colleagues and I introduced a plan to stabilize the individual health insurance market that would increase choice for Americans who use the exchanges and slow the growth of premiums and deductibles. It’s time for Republicans to work with Democrats on real solutions to protect what is working in our health care system and fix what isn’t.”

Last week, Rep. Peters and his colleagues introduced the five-part Solutions Over Politics health care plan that includes Rep. Peters’ priorities to make federal reinsurance programs permanent, commit to long-term funding for Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments, and boost the participation of young, healthy enrollees in the marketplace. These solutions are aimed at increasing choice and keeping costs down. A robust reinsurance stability fund would reduce premiums in 2018 by an average of 15%. Continuing to fund CSR payments would save the government $2.3 billion in spending per year and help working families afford health care. And without enforcement (or effective replacement) of the current mandate, average premiums in 2018 and 2019 are projected to increase 15 percent to 20 percent higher than they would otherwise.