Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., argued Monday the newly-announced revision to the Senate Republicans healthcare plan that includes a penalty for not having continuous coverage is the “epitome of mean.”
“Tens of millions of Americans every year experience a gap in healthcare coverage through no fault of their own, whether it be through things like job loss or temporary financial problems,” Schumer said in a statement. “The Senate Republicans’ latest version of Trumpcare would pour salt in that wound, locking American families out of health insurance for even longer thanks to this six-month ban provision.”
“It’s the epitome of ‘mean’ to say that those without health insurance for several months have to wait even longer to get it,” he continued.
“Being denied critical and potentially life-saving healthcare for six months is not a fair punishment for someone who is a few hundred dollars short on insurance payments because they lost their job and finances are unexpectedly tight.”
The revision, which would take hold in 2019, means a person has to wait six months for coverage to begin if they do not have insurance for 63 days or more in the previous year. The provision would only affect those who purchase insurance on the individual market, rather than those on employer-based plans.
A score from the Congressional Budget Office is also expected to be released later on Monday.
