March 17, 2017
House LGBT Caucus Announces Opposition to AHCA
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The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus announced opposition to the proposed replacement to the Affordable Care Act. The replacement bill, called the "American Health Care Act" (AHCA), would cut off health care access to tens of millions of Americans, including millions of LGBT people.
"LGBT Americans face higher rates of poverty, social isolation and health disparities" said LGBT Equality Caucus Executive Director Roddy Flynn. "The LGBT Equality Caucus is deeply concerned about the negative impact the AHCA could have on LGBT people. The lifesaving health benefits contained in the ACA ensure low-income Americans have access to affordable care. By all objective measures, the replacement plan would raise out of pocket costs and reduce access to care for the most vulnerable among us. That is completely unacceptable."
The AHCA would undermine the Medicaid program and rollback the ACA's Medicaid Expansion, which provides access to health care for millions of low-income Americans, including those who are LGBT or living with HIV.
The AHCA would particularly harm older LGBT Americans, as it significantly raises out of pocket costs for Americans in their 50s and 60s. LGBT older Americans face greater health disparities and are more likely to be low-income or live in poverty than the general population, and would particularly feel the impact of this out of pocket price increase.
The mission of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is to promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality. The bi-partisan LGBT Equality Caucus is strongly committed to achieving the full enjoyment of human rights for LGBT people in the U.S. and around the world.
By serving as a resource for Members of Congress, their staff, and the public on LGBT issues, the Caucus works toward the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence, and the improved health and well-being for all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
