March 29, 2017
Dear Dr. Bailey:
Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. Understanding your ideas and concerns helps me better represent you and the Second District of Minnesota. I value your comments and appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts on this important issue.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is collapsing under its own weight. In 2017, roughly 1,000 counties in the United States have only one insurance option. Additionally, Minnesotans saw fifty to sixty-five percent increases in premium costs this year, the fourth highest in the country. According to my office's health care survey, forty-three percent of respondents said that premium costs were the biggest challenge facing you and your family in accessing health care. I agree that current premium costs are unacceptable.
The health care emergency in Minnesota, and our nation, is urgent. That is why Minnesota had to pass a $310 million emergency "discount" plan to offer relief for families hurt by the state's destabilized insurance markets. This is also why I believe we must act to make meaningful reforms to our health care system.
As I am sure you are aware, the House of Representatives has begun to consider legislation to make reforms to our health care system. Both the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R.1101), which allows small businesses to band together and purchase affordable health care coverage, and the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act (H.R.372), which restores federal anti-trust and competition laws to the health insurance industry, passed the House with bipartisan support. The House is also reviewing the American Health Care Act (H.R.1628), which was developed through the Budget Reconciliation process to repeal and replace the ACA. This bill has not received floor consideration by the whole House yet.
I will continue to support legislation that increases insurance portability and increases choice and affordability for consumers. This includes advanceable and refundable tax credits that anyone can use to purchase insurance anywhere in the country; increased access to and usability of tax-deferred Health Savings Accounts; repeal of the taxes in the ACA that increased costs; and repeal of the ACA mandates to restore health care choices to consumers. I am also committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable among us do not slip through cracks as we work to reform the health care system.
As legislation regarding health care comes to the House floor for a vote, I will consider it with your thoughts in mind.
