House of Representatives Approves Budget Bill on February 1
Despite strong oppostion from AARP and consumer, provider, charitable, and many other groups, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an irresponsible budget reconciliation bill by a narrow 2-vote margin (216-214).
The bill limits eligibility for Medicaid – a program that serves our most vulnerable, including children, persons with disabilities and older persons – and could deny millions of Americans the health care they need. A provision of the bill will deny long-term care coverage to those who give money to charities, churches and family members in need.
Under the bill:
- Americans who cannot pay for needed and costly long-term care could be denied health coverage if they gave money to churches, helped family members or donated to charities at any time in the past 5 years.
- Americans may have to sell their homes, family farms or ranches in order to get long-term care services.
- Millions of Americans will be denied medically necessary care if they are unable to pay new premiums and higher copays. Many may become uninsured and be forced to go to more costly emergency rooms to get the care they need.
- Medicare beneficiaries will have to pay $2.7 billion in higher coinsurance and premiums.
AARP needs your help!
What you can do:
- First, find out how your representative voted on the bill passed February 1.
- Then, please tell your representative what you think about how he or she voted. Send an email through our Legislative Action Center.
- Stay tuned for more information on AARP’s effort to have this bad policy reversed.
What AARP is doing:
- AARP CEO Bill Novelli responded to the irresponsible House bill passage.
- AARP CEO Bill Novelli urged opposition to the budget reconciliation bill in an open letter to the House of Representatives.
- AARP increased awareness of the budget reconciliation bill with public interest advertising
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