Today, Rep. John R. Carter voted in support of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) when it passed the House. The bill repeals Obamacare and replaces it with an innovative plan that protects those with pre-existing conditions, lifts lifetime caps on medical care, expands health savings accounts, and allows dependents to stay on their parent’s plan until they are 26 years old. This legislation ensures that insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage on the basis of a pre-existing condition, banned from rescinding coverage based on a pre-existing condition, and prevented from raising premiums on individuals with pre-existing conditions who maintain continuous coverage.

“After voting more than 60 times to repeal and replace Obamacare, House Republicans, with support of President Trump, have once again passed an innovative plan to replace this disastrous law,” said Rep. Carter. “President Trump and Republicans have promised the American people to repeal and replace Obamacare, and that is what we are doing. This bill is the first step in providing a more consumer focused marketplace, not a government mandate with burdensome taxes. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and the Trump Administration to make other important policy changes that will help reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care for all Americans.”

The AHCA repeals Obamacare’s tax increases, including the prescription drug tax, the “medicine cabinet” tax, and health insurance tax. These taxes have increased the cost of health care and have placed an unnecessary financial burden on individuals and families. The bill creates a new refundable and advanceable tax credit for health insurance that ensures that federal tax dollars do not subsidize abortions.

The legislation saves $840 billion through major entitlement reform to Medicaid and provides nearly $1 trillion in tax relief. 

Bill Highlights:

Maintains Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions

The AHCA explicitly maintains protections for pre-existing conditions.  Guaranteed issue of coverage, guaranteed renewability of coverage, or the prohibition on insurance companies denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions are all maintained.

The House passed bill contains two more layers of security for these individuals.  It gives flexibility to states to tackle premium prices. However, there is a very strict process for obtaining that waiver. It will only be given to states with high-risk pools and other protections in place.  For states seeking a waiver, the AHCA also provides an additional $8 billion to allow people with pre-existing conditions who haven’t maintained continuous coverage to acquire affordable care.

Repeals Obamacare

·       Eliminates the individual mandate penalty

·       Eliminates the employer mandate penalty

·       Repeals the Obamacare subsidies in 2020

·       Repeals the Obamacare tax increases

For more information on the American Health Care Act, please visit: https://housegop.leadpages.co/healthcare/or http://www.speaker.gov/general/ahca-will-repeal-and-replace-obamacare

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, co-chairman of the Congressional Army Caucus, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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