Schumer, Pelosi Joint Statement on News Reports President Trump Will Cut Off Vital ACA Payments, Spike Premiums

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement after news reports that President Trump will unilaterally cut off the Cost-Sharing Reduction payments required under the Affordable Care Act, thereby increasing Americans’ health premiums by 20 percent or more:

“Sadly, instead of working to lower health costs for Americans, it seems President Trump will singlehandedly hike Americans’ health premiums. It is a spiteful act of vast, pointless sabotage leveled at working families and the middle class in every corner of America. Make no mistake about it, Trump will try to blame the Affordable Care Act, but this will fall on his back and he will pay the price for it.

“President Trump has apparently decided to punish the American people for his inability to improve our health care system. Trumpcare collapsed because Americans overwhelmingly recognized the cruelty and higher costs it meant for them and their loved ones.  Now, millions of hard-working American families will suffer just because President Trump wants them to.

"If these reports are true, the President is walking away from the good faith, bipartisan Alexander-Murray negotiations and risking the health care of millions of Americans."