(BOSTON, MA) — Statement of Michael Miller, director of Strategic Policy at Community Catalyst, in response to the Trump administration’s submission today of a brief in support of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit, Texas v. U.S., seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“Today, the Trump administration continued its all-out war on our health security. By joining the plaintiffs seeking to overturn the entirety of the Affordable Care Act in Texas v. U.S., President Trump is seeking to achieve through the courts what he failed to do through legislation. His actions speak far louder than his hollow promises to protect people with pre-existing health conditions.

“If the Trump administration and other plaintiffs prevail, the consequences will be profoundly tragic. More than 20 million people could lose their health care coverage and 133 million people living with pre-existing conditions like cancer, asthma or diabetes could face exorbitantly high rates or be denied coverage all together. People again could be saddled with unlimited out-of-pocket costs. Women could be charged more than men for the same coverage. Insurers could refuse to cover essential services like maternity care, mental health care and free birth control. Young people could no longer be able to stay on their parents’ health plan until they turn 26.

“According to an April Kaiser Family Foundation poll, ‘the majority of the public say they do not want to see the Supreme Court overturn either the pre-existing condition protections (68 percent) or the entire health care law (54 percent).’ And a majority of the public are worried they or someone in their family will lose or not be able to afford coverage if the ACA or pre-existing condition protections are struck down. No one should have to live with that uncertainty.

“The Trump administration should be doing its job, which is to defend the law and protect people’s ability to get the health care they need when they need it. Instead, it is actively working to undermine people’s health security

“Fortunately attorneys general from both parties, led by Xavier Becerra of California, are working to defend and protect our health care. We hope and expect they will prevail at the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the ACA will be upheld for the good of the American people. We call on the Trump administration to uphold the law and protect the public.”

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About Community Catalyst

Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable, quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.