Dear Friend,

Knowing of your interest in health care reform, I wanted you to know that I strongly oppose recent efforts by the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives to repeal the new health insurance reform law.  Americans are literally sick and tired of being pushed around by the powerful health insurance industry.  That is what I hear every day when I talk to regular Marylanders about health care policy.  We must not allow opponents of reform to undermine the progress we have made.

Last year, we passed historic legislation that will expand access to affordable care, hold insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage.  It also caps annual out-of-pocket expenses and removes lifetime limits on how much insurance companies will cover.  Admittedly, the bill we ultimately passed is not perfect.  I would have much preferred the original version passed by the House of Representatives which included a public option health plan to compete with private insurance companies.  But this law is a crucial step in our effort to reduce the cost of health care for families and small businesses, as well as provide access for those who currently do not have insurance. 

Now, opponents of health care reform are trying to repeal this legislation.  The practical effects of repeal would be to eliminate critical patient rights, put insurance companies back in charge of health care decisions and add $230 billion to the deficit.  Below are just a few examples.


Seniors

• Increased Costs for Prescription Drugs: Seniors who end up in the donut hole will no longer receive the 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs that went into effect on January 1, 2011.  The health care law will permanently close the donut hole by 2020 but a repeal will re-open it, causing seniors to lose out on significant savings.

• Eliminates Free Preventive Care: Every senior participating in Medicare is now eligible for free preventive services such as mammograms, colonoscopies and annual wellness visits without co-payments, co-insurance or deductibles.  The repeal would raise costs and take away the rights of 741,000 seniors in Maryland to receive important preventive check-ups without worrying about costs.

• Weakens Solvency of Medicare: The health care law strengthens the solvency of the Medicare program by cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse and reinvesting the savings in enhanced models of care. It will extend the solvency of Medicare until 2029, an extension of 12 years. Under the proposed health care law repeal, the Medicare Trust Fund will be insolvent in six years.


Children and Young Adults

• Discrimination Against Kids with Pre-Existing Conditions: Without the health care law, insurances companies will be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.  Coverage for up to 72,000 uninsured children will be at jeopardy and up to 90,000 children will only receive partial benefits due to a pre-existing condition.

• Young Adults Will be Dropped From Health Plans: A provision in the health care law allows young adults to remain on their parent’s plan until their 26^th birthday unless they are offered coverage at work. Without this protection, insurers will once again be permitted to drop young adults from their parent’s plans after graduating from college.  The repeal would affect 18,000 young adults in Maryland. 


Women

• Gender Rating: Insurance companies will once again be allowed to charge higher premiums for women.

• Denying Coverage for Pregnancy or Domestic Violence: Before health reform was passed, insurance companies could deny coverage for women with “pre-existing conditions” such as pregnancy, having had a Cesarean section, or receiving medical treatment for sexual or domestic abuse.

• Raising Health Care Costs: The health care law requires new insurance plans to cover recommended preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs.  The repeal would mean that services like mammograms, colonoscopies, flu shots, immunizations, pre-natal and new baby care will continue to be subject to deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance.


The Economy

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the proposed repeal will increase the federal deficit by $230 billion over the next 10 years.  CBO officials also reaffirmed their original statement that the health care law will reduce the deficit beyond the first 10 years, so the repeal will continue to increase the deficit over the long-term.


Uninsured and Small Business

The health care reform law creates a health care exchange for small businesses, the uninsured, and others looking to change plans or gain access to the group rates that are only available to large employers.  The proposed repeal legislation will eliminate this new framework and continue to impede access for affordable health care for those who need it most.  It will rescind the tax credits for small businesses that provide health coverage to their employees and the uninsured and self-employed will find it difficult to find affordable coverage in the individual market.


I still strongly believe that the health care law will expand health coverage and improve the quality of care for Americans.  It marked a new direction for the country – away from the influence of powerful special interests and towards common sense solutions for America’s families.  I will fight against any legislation to repeal the health care law and revert back to the status quo.  Your input is invaluable to me and I ask that you continue to provide me with your comments and suggestions in the weeks and months ahead.


Sincerely,

John P. Sarbanes

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