For Immediate Release: February 10, 2020
Contact: Kemi Giwa, 510-493-1766, kemi.giwa@berlinrosen.com
Trump’s Proposed Budget: Plenty of Money for His Wall, More Cuts to Health Care
Washington, DC – In response to President Trump announcing his budget plan today, Health Care for America Now Executive Director Margarida Jorge released the following statement:
“President Trump’s 2021 budget proposal is yet another example of him saying one thing and doing another. Less than a week after proclaiming support for people with pre-existing conditions, Trump’s actions tell a different story.
“Trump’s 2021 budget proposal would strip away health care from millions of Americans and cut critical services while extending tax breaks that mainly benefit the wealthy, not working families. While Trump continues to posture as a health champion, his administration supports the lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA), effectively stealing health care from 20 million people, ending protections for the 130 million people living with pre-existing conditions, and restoring insurance companies’ power to enforce arbitrary ‘lifetime limits’ for coverage. Trump’s budget doubles down on taking away our health care, calling for additional cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security Disability Insurance and other services that people depend on for health.
“This budget is a nightmare for the 1 in 5 Americans that get their healthcare through Medicaid. Women, who rely on Medicaid more than men, particularly for maternity, pregnancy and family planning services, would be especially punished if this budget became reality. Medicaid is also the most important and effective tool we have in combating the opioid epidemic and treating people struggling with addiction, which President Trump paid lip service to but so far done nothing much about.
“Trump’s budget is proof that, no matter what he says, his first priority is still to strip healthcare away from millions of people. Americans deserve better.”
###
Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is the national grassroots coalition that ran a $60 million five-and-a-half year campaign from 2008-2013 to pass, protect, and promote the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and protect Medicare and Medicaid. HCAN has come back together to fight the Republicans’ all-out effort to take away America’s health care and put people at the mercy of the health insurance companies again.
