WASHINGTON, DC—AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond issued the following response to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report issued yesterday, which further analyzed the proposed Medicaid cuts, titled Longer-Term Effects of the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 on Medicaid Spending. The report follows the CBO score issued earlier this week of the Senate health bill that predicts 15 million people would lose health coverage in 2018. The number of uninsured people would rise to 19 million in 2020 and to 22 million in 2026. The initial CBO analysis on June 26 shows that, as predicted, older Americans ages 50–64 would bear the brunt of the financial impact of this bill; yesterday’s CBO report shows that the most vulnerable Americans would face even harsher cuts to Medicaid in the second decade if the bill became law.

“AARP remains steadfastly opposed to the Senate health bill. As with the House health bill, this Senate bill would cut Medicaid funding, impose an Age Tax by exorbitantly increasing insurance costs for older Americans, and does absolutely nothing to lower health care and drug costs.  

“Yesterday’s report by the nonpartisan CBO confirms that Medicaid would experience even more drastic cuts in the second 10 year period, with reductions of over one third of the program, or 35 percent.

“We recommit to holding accountable those who vote to give huge tax breaks to drug and insurance companies and then shift the costs of health care onto older Americans.

“AARP continues to oppose this Senate bill and we urge Senators to vote ‘NO.’”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.