Fight for Our Health
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CA House Republicans Shut Down the Entire Federal Government to Deny Us Health Care

Advocates pledge to hold them accountable:
Reps. Calvert (CA-41), Fong (CA-20), Issa (CA-48), Kiley (CA-3), Kim (CA-40), LaMalfa (CA-1), McClintok (CA-5), Olbernolte (CA-23) and Valadao (CA-22) 

Sacramento, CA – The Fight for Our Health coalition of seniors, people with disabilities, health care workers, caregivers, veterans, and children’s and health care advocates today pledged to hold California House Republicans accountable for refusing to listen to their constituents’ demands for affordable health care. 

Trump, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans chose a shutdown rather than negotiate with Democrats over restoring health care cuts in HR 1, the bill signed by Trump in July that contains devastating cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and fails to extend support that keeps Covered California affordable for 1.5 million people in our state. Health care experts say these cuts will result in nearly 4 million Californians losing health care, thousands dying, and widespread health care impacts in the form of higher costs, likely hospital closures, longer ER wait times, and worse health care outcomes. 

“Today, Congressional Republicans chose to shut down the government rather than admit they were wrong to hike the price of health care and kick millions of people off Medi-Cal,” said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, Executive Director, Health Access. “While they double-down on health care cuts, nearly all of the 2 million people enrolled in Covered California will also now see their monthly premiums skyrocket. Constituents paying hundreds of dollars more each month don’t need to wonder who is to blame: the fact is, every Republican member of Congress from California voted for the budget bill that led to these higher costs. Republicans run every branch of the federal government and instead of fixing their mess, they are forcing a shutdown that will make everything worse for everyday Californians.”

One consequence of the Republican House members’ refusal to prioritize their constituents’ health care needs will be felt immediately as Congress missed the September 30 deadline that would have prevented Covered California enrollees from facing massive premium hikes. Nearly 2 million enrollees who access health coverage through Covered California will soon receive notices that their health care premiums will soar by an average of 97%. Federal support has helped individuals, families, and small business owners with lower incomes afford to buy insurance through Covered California.   

“SEIU members refuse to let Trump, Johnson and Congressmembers beholden to billionaires hold our health care hostage. Today’s shutdown is more proof we can’t let Trump rig the next election and do more damage to the health care our families’ lives depend on,” said Fay Eastman, a patient care technician from Oakland and a member of SEIU-UHW (United Healthcare Workers West). “We’re leading the fight for Yes on Prop 50 to save our democratic elections because members of Congress must be responsive to the voters of their districts, not beholden to Trump and the Mar-A-Lago crowd who couldn’t care less about working people’s health care.” 

Kiran Savage-Sangwan, CPEHN Executive Director, added:  “1.5 million Californians enrolled in Covered California health plans will soon learn that their monthly health care premiums are set to rise by an average of 97%, because Republicans in Congress care more about protecting tax breaks for the rich than making life more affordable for people in low-wage jobs. Sadly, these impacts to Californians’ health care are just a preview of what’s to come under HR1 and the Trump/Johnson agenda. We will hold these members of Congress accountable and demand California leaders use the tools at their disposal to protect our care, regardless of who is in the White House and Congressional leadership.”

Constituents of the Republican House members who opted to shut down the government will see some of the harshest impacts from their refusal to extend “enhanced premium tax credits”. These federal subsidies make Covered California more affordable for small business owners, gig workers, entrepreneurs, students, job seekers, and more who rely on these marketplaces for their coverage. (Data Source: Covered California)