Days before Obamacare open enrollment begins, the Administration announced benchmark health insurance premiums on healthcare.gov will rise by an average of 25 percent in 2017, while the number of insurance plans offered on the exchanges will decrease by an average 36 percent. Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following response:

“If this report isn’t proof that Obamacare is failing Americans across the country, I don’t know what is. Premiums are climbing to unprecedented highs, insurers are fleeing the exchanges in droves, and more and more middle class families and taxpayers are forced to foot the bill as the overall cost of health care balloons. While the Administration continues to ignore the harsh reality it’s created for Americans, House Republicans are committed to moving forward with a better way.” 

Ways and Means Republicans voiced similar concerns:

Ohio Congressman and Health Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi: “Obamacare is failing. More and more Ohio families are feeling the brunt of the president’s broken promises as they see their health care choices dwindle and costs double. House Republicans are listening to consumers and families, and we are answering with real solutions that put patients, not the government, at the center of care.” 

Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany: “This is yet another indication that the Affordable Care Act has made health care anything but affordable. What’s becoming even clearer is this law is not sustainable. Obamacare’s failures have led to more money coming out of the pockets of hard-working Americans. We must replace Obamacare with patient-centered policies that drive market-based, competitive pricing before it’s too late.”

Washington Congressman Dave Reichert: “I share the disappointment and frustration of the people in Washington State and around the country who continue to see their health care options go down while the prices of their plans go up. House Republicans have listened to the concerns of the American people and outlined a patient-centered plan in our Better Way Agenda. I am eager to continue working with members on both sides of the aisle until we get this right.”

Texas Congressman Sam Johnson: “Obamacare is not the answer to Americans’ health care needs. It never has been, and as these significant premium hikes show, it never will be. Texas families and businesses are suffering under Obamacare. But it doesn’t have to be this way. House Republicans have A Better Way, and I look forward to seeing this plan through with a new Congress. Americans want, need, and deserve TRUE affordable health care that lets them pick and keep the doctors they like.” 

Tennessee Congressman Diane Black: “The Obama Administration is clearly in a state of denial about the failure of their signature law. In the same report released this week that confirmed nationwide premium spikes, the Administration claimed that ‘The Affordable Care Act continues to promote access to affordable health insurance plans.’ Tennesseans facing a 63 percent increase in premiums and an exodus of insurers would beg to differ. We have tried this President Obama’s way, and now we need a better way.”

Georgia Congressman Tom Price: “While President Obama and Democrats have the audacity to tout Obamacare’s ‘success,’ the cold hard facts and figures prove the opposite is true. Every single day Obamacare is making the quality of health care in this country worse and next year alone, benchmark Obamacare premiums are set to increase 25 percent on average for states that use the federal healthcare.gov marketplace.” 

Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly: “No further proof is needed that Obamacare is an unworkable and unaffordable disaster that should never have been inflicted upon the American people … The fault for this national catastrophe lies squarely with President Obama and all those who, like him, outrageously ignore the pain this law is causing and insist on preserving it, no matter the cost to innocent Americans. There is simply no honest way to defend the indefensible.” 

Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins: “Once again, premiums in Kansas for the so-called ‘Affordable’ Care Act are set to spike, this time increasing on average by 42 percent, and leaving just 3 insurers for the whole state. That means higher costs and fewer choices for hard-working Kansans. Obamacare isn’t working, and we need to repeal and replace it with a better way that puts Americans in control of their healthcare choices.”

Minnesota Congressman Erik Paulsen: “This recent news, both in Minnesota and across the country, is just the latest sign of the fundamental issues surrounding the President’s health care law, which is failing to keep costs affordable. This is troubling for those struggling to pay their health care bills who have seen another one of the law’s promises broken. We need bipartisan, solutions-oriented health care reform that focuses on access, cost, quality, and choice.”

Texas Congressman Kenny Marchant: “The President’s un-affordable and disastrous health care law is collapsing on itself. Families in Texas are stuck paying higher premiums, with fewer choices and less access to their doctors. Conservatives have consistently offered plans to repeal and replace Obamacare, with real, patient-centered solutions … More false promises about Obamacare and these higher premiums are not welcome in Texas.” 

Ohio Congressman Jim Renacci: “Since being back in the district I have had a great opportunity to hear directly from my constituents and the one concern I consistently hear is: ‘Congressman, my healthcare costs are rising and so are my deductibles, please help us truly have affordable care.’ Which is why I am surprised the administration is finally acknowledging the 25 percent soar for 2017 … Being in the healthcare business for over two decades I know that we must bring competition back to the health care arena and preserve the doctor/ patient relationship in order to fix our broken system.” 

South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem: “The President’s health care law fundamentally failed to do anything that actually drives down the cost of health care in this country. Instead, Obamacare issued top-down mandates to ensure more people would foot an even larger bill. It isn’t working – and what’s worse is that it’s hurting families whose budgets are already pinched the most.”

Missouri Congressman Jason Smith: “The Administration that crafted Obamacare is now confirming our long-held worst fears about their namesake law – fewer choices and significantly higher premiums for families. In Missouri, three insurers have already given up and left the marketplace altogether. Those reduced options led to an average premium increase of nearly 20% in Missouri. The middle-class families in Missouri can no longer afford this expensive, ineffective law.”

Nebraska Congressman Adrian Smith: “The nationwide 25 percent increase of Obamacare premiums for 2017 is the latest example of how this failed law impacts the lives of Americans and further demonstrates we cannot mandate and spend our way to lower insurance premiums. We must pursue market-based health care solutions which empower patients and providers to reduce the cost for all Americans.”

Ways and Means Republicans will continue to advance step-by-step solutions that reduce health care costs, increase choices, and promote quality as part of our Better Way agenda so that all Americans have access to the care they need at a price they can pay.

CLICK HERE to learn more about our Better Way for Health Care Reform.

CLICK HERE for more news coverage on the latest Obamacare failures.