NJPP – “American Health Care Act” Would Have Been a Disaster for New Jersey
NJPP – “American Health Care Act” Would Have Been a Disaster for New Jersey
Contacts: Louis Di Paolo (NJPP): 201-417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org
REPORT RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Louis Di Paolo (NJPP): 201-417-5049 (cell) or dipaolo@njpp.org
TRENTON (May 10, 2018) – A report by New Jersey Policy Perspective reflects on the American Health Care Act, which passed the US House of Representatives approximately one year ago, and concludes that more than half a million New Jerseyans would have lost health insurance coverage under the proposed legislation.
Efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act culminated with the US House of Representatives passing the “American Health Care Act,” on May 4, 2017. In July 2017, similar efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act failed to pass in the US Senate.
“New Jersey was, and continues to be, one of the main beneficiaries of the Affordable Care Act,” said Raymond Castro, Director of Health Policy at New Jersey Policy Perspective. “New Jersey experienced major gains in health coverage due to the Affordable Care Act, and efforts to repeal and replace the landmark law would have resulted in less coverage and higher premiums for many New Jerseyans.
“After full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the uninsurance rate dropped for both males and females, all age groups, and all income levels, especially for households below twice the federal poverty level. The biggest positive impact, however, was in Medicaid. Over a half million very low income New Jerseyans enrolled in Medicaid because of Medicaid expansion. This resulted in New Jersey receiving approximately $3 billion a year in federal funds which generated $4 billion in economic activity and 32,000 jobs.”
Before the Affordable Care Act was fully implemented in 2014, New Jersey had:
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The 12th highest number of uninsured in the nation
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The highest premiums in the individual insurance market which was in a death spiral
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One the costliest charity care programs in the nation
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Major racial and ethnic disparities in health coverage.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, by 2016:
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The state’s total uninsurance rate dropped by about a third to 8 percent.
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The rate dropped for all races but the most for Latinos, African-Americans, and Asians.
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New Jersey no longer had the highest premiums in the nation.
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State charity care costs for hospital visits decreased by over $200 million annually.
Key Findings from the Report:
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Over half a million New Jerseyans (540,000) would have lost health coverage under AHCA
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The uninsured would have spiked in all Congressional districts
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One in ten New Jersey adults would have lost health care coverage due to the effective end of the Medicaid expansion
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A permanent cap on federal Medicaid funds would have threatened the health of 1.6 million vulnerable New Jerseyans
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Premiums for New Jerseyans with preexisting conditions would have become unaffordable
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New Jersey’s economy would have been disrupted by the loss of approximately $5 billion in federal funds and 54,000 jobs
Read the report here:
https://www.njpp.org/
