Democrats holding fast to avoid a health care crisis [View all]

Congressman Rick Larsen, D-WA

At a time when families are already struggling with high prices and a weak job market, Republicans in Congress are doubling down on a health care crisis of their own making.

Deep Medicaid cuts, major changes to Medicare coverage, and the pending expiration of essential health care tax credits are creating immense uncertainty in the health care market. Employers are bracing for the largest annual increase in health care costs in 15 years and mass layoffs are hitting local hospitals hard.

Funding for the federal government runs out next week, which threatens to add more instability to a weakening economy. Instead of working with Democrats to keep the government open, President Donald Trump has walked away from the negotiating table. Republicans are going all in on a government funding plan that will cause 80,000 Washingtonians to lose their health insurance and raise health care prices for all of us.

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Taking health care away from hard-working people hurts all of us. Our family, friends and neighbors will be forced to skip or delay getting the medical help that they need. More uninsured individuals create more risk for the health care system, and insurance companies pay for this risk by raising premiums.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-democrats-holding-fast-to-avoid-a-health-care-crisis/