07.25.17

Hoeven Statement on Debating Health Care Legislation

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the Senate voted to debate health care reform legislation: 

“Obamacare has raised costs and limited choices for individuals and families in North Dakota and across the nation. Premiums have more than doubled in the U.S. since 2013 and are continuing to rise with some areas of the country left with one or no insurers. In fact, North Dakota is expected to see additional premium increases again this fall because of Obamacare. We need to provide relief for families struggling to afford health insurance and improve our health care system. 

“The Senate voted to move forward to continue debating health care reform. I will continue to work through the amendment process to get to a bill that stabilizes the insurance market and improves competitiveness so consumers have access to better and more affordable health insurance policies. We must also ensure that low-income individuals have access to health care coverage either through Medicaid or a refundable tax credit that enables them to buy their own health insurance policy.

“As health care reform is a process, not one bill, we will continue working to put in place a suitable replacement that provides Americans with access to patient-centered health care and health insurance at an affordable rate.”  

-###-