CBO estimates impact of House-passed American Health Care Act

The Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation today estimated 51 million people under age 65 would lack health insurance in 2026 under House-passed legislation to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act, 23 million more than under current law. In 2018, 14 million fewer people would have coverage. CBO and JCT estimate that the legislation would reduce the federal deficit by $119 billion over the 2017-2026 period. The largest savings would come from reductions in outlays for Medicaid and replacement of the ACA’s subsidies for non-group health insurance with new tax credits. CBO and JCT estimate the bill would cut $834 billion from the Medicaid program. “The latest CBO estimates on the impact of the American Health Care Act only reinforce our deep concerns about the importance of maintaining coverage for those vulnerable patients who need it,” said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. “In the absence of any other government estimate, the CBO analysis will inform policymakers about financial and coverage impacts. As we have said, any health reforms must be guided by ensuring that millions of people across the country don't lose access to their health care coverage. We cannot support legislation that the CBO clearly indicates would jeopardize that coverage for millions of Americans. We continue to urge the Senate to work together in a manner that provides coverage to those who need it and ensures that the most vulnerable are not left behind.”