To the Editor:

It’s a sad irony that what finally got the American Health Care Act through the House of Representatives is a provision which gives states the option of allowing insurance companies to once again discriminate against people with preexisting conditions. The Congressional Budget Office had estimated before these changes that this bill would cause 24 million Americans to lose their health insurance by 2026. This new change would only increase this number as many Iowans and Americans with preexisting conditions would be unable to afford the higher premiums insurance companies would charge.

The American Health Care Act also poses a grave threat to Iowa’s seniors. Seniors throughout Iowa would pay more in premiums after tax credits under the American Health Care Act than they do under the Affordable Care Act. According to data compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average premiums paid after tax credits for a 60-year old senior making $30,000 a year under the American Health Care Act would be $7,560 in Polk County, $15,220 Harrison County and $12,360 in Dubuque County. Under the Affordable Care Act, the average premiums paid after tax credits would be $2,480.

The American Health Care Act fails to live up to the high standards for health care coverage and health care protections set by the Affordable Care Act and therefore should not be approved by the Senate. Tell Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst to resist the American Health Care Act.

Clay Pasqual

Des Moines