Senate Republicans have included a repeal of the ACA's individual insurance mandate in their new tax plan, according to The New York Times.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates a mandate repeal would leave 13 million more Americans uninsured and save $338 billion over the next 10 years. Budget rules dictate that the tax bill can add no more than $1.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, and the mandate repeal offers valuable savings while also loosening ACA regulations that Republicans have been fighting since President Donald Trump took office in January.
Healthcare groups joined together Tuesday in a letter to Congressional leaders to oppose the mandate repeal.
"We join together to urge Congress to maintain the individual mandate. There will be serious consequences if Congress simply repeals the mandate while leaving the insurance reforms in place: millions more will be uninsured or face higher premiums, challenging their ability to access the care they need," the groups wrote. "Let’s work together on solutions that deliver the access, care, and coverage that the American people deserve."
America’s Health Insurance Plans, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the Federation of American Hospitals all signed the letter.