Barrett Stands with Patients, Votes Against Blank Checks for Big Insurance Companies
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) today voted no on H.R. 1834, a bill that would extend COVID-era subsidies for big insurance companies who are raking in record profits while continuing to hike rates and deny record levels of claims. This legislation also didn’t offer any reforms to mitigate the rampant fraud, waste, and abuse in the program.
Instead of writing blank checks to insurance companies, Barrett is continuing to stand up for mid-Michigan families by fighting for health care reforms that put patients first and lower costs. He and his House colleagues last month approved the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, which would lower insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs, expand coverage options for workers, and reduce hidden drug costs.
“The program that Democrats put forward today would advantage the top 1% income earners, on the backs of working-class Americans, and I simply can’t stand behind that,” said Barrett. “I’m looking for real reforms in health care that will empower patients [and] put more money in your pocket, so that you can choose the health care plan that works for you, while bypassing the health insurance companies for the profitability that they’ve been taking at our advantage.”
Barrett voted no on H.R. 1834 today, which would extend for three years the “enhanced” Affordable Care Act subsidies to insurers for health plans sold on the individual marketplace to enrollees who earn at least 400% of the poverty level. The bill includes no reforms to the broken program to prevent fraud, even though a government watchdog found that all but two of the fake accounts it created were approved for subsidies.
It also includes no income cap, despite the fact that the program had subsidized insurance for high-income households earning more than $500,000 per year.
Click here to watch Congressman Barrett’s full reaction to the legislation.