Graham-Cassidy Bill, The Last-Ditch GOP Effort To Deprive Millions Of Healthcare

First, the bill ends current protections on discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions . This is critically important, as it affects 52% of adults under age 65.

Next, the current prohibition against lifetime limits on benefits would be lost. This would be particularly devastating to premature babies, those with disabilities, the rare disease community, and cancer patients.

Another “gotcha”, is that insurers would no longer have to provide “essential services.” These currently include: 

Emergency services
Hospitalization (like surgery and overnight stays)
Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth
Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (this includes counseling and psychotherapy)
Prescription drugs
Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
Laboratory services
Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
Birth control coverage

Medicaid would be cut, particularly hurting poor children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Medicaid expansion will end. This has helped provide care to more low-income adults than were previously eligible; the subsidized care for moderate-income families will disappear entirely under this proposal.

The public should demand that their representatives tell them how this bill would impact them, and allow open debate and consideration, rather than railroading this destructive bill through.

You can find your representative’s number here or by calling the Capitol's switchboard at 202-224-3121. For future reference, or to complain about their vote, here's Senate contact info.

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