Kustoff: Obamacare is collapsing, and doing nothing is not an option

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) today said the following regarding the state of the Affordable Care Act.

"Tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of Obamacare. Seven years ago, when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, Americans were promised lower premiums, no tax increases, and more cost-effective options in the health care market.

"President Obama promised that ‘if you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan. Period.'

"Now, we are seeing that government-mandated health care does not mean greater access to coverage.

"Health care premiums have gone up by double digits in 31 states just this year. In Tennessee, premiums have risen an average of 63 percent. In some counties, premiums have risen as much as 116 percent. Additionally, 18 tax hikes were created under Obamacare.

"Health care providers are dropping out of the exchange one after the other. One out of every three counties in America has just one insurer to choose from. Tennesseans know this all too well. Right now, 73 out of 95 counties in Tennessee, including Shelby County, have just one insurer on the health care exchange, and some areas, like Knox County, will have zero insurers next year.

"As a result, only four percent of Tennesseans have health insurance on the Obamacare exchange.

"Obamacare is collapsing, and doing nothing is not an option. This is simply not sustainable.

"I believe everyone who wants health insurance should have access to it. This is not possible under Obamacare. We need to return the control of health care decisions to individuals and states."

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