President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop paying subsidies for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, R-SC, and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, responded to that action:
Rep. Mark Sanford
Americans should be given more choice in healthcare and at a lower cost. It’s as simple as that. And that’s what I tried to achieve with the Obamacare Replacement Act, a bill that I introduced with Sen. Rand Paul earlier this year.
The Obamacare Replacement Act, which was officially endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus, would repeal those aspects of Obamacare that acted as the main drivers of increased prices and premiums and replaces them with a free market, patient-centered, and consumer-driven healthcare system.
Among other things, this bill would 1) legalize inexpensive insurance plans; 2) help individuals to buy insurance across state lines; and 3) allow individuals to band together to purchase insurance, increasing their purchasing power. These are all aspects of President Trump’s new plan.
Accordingly, I’m cautiously optimistic about the president’s plan that could lead to small businesses and individuals banding together and buying insurance across state lines, which would give increased bargaining power and lead to lower prices. And the icing on the cake? This plan isn’t a government mandate.
Sen. Tim Scott
During a time when South Carolinians, and Americans across the country, stand on the verge of facing more steep premium increases, this is a welcome action.
This announcement is a clear example of how we can help folks gain access to health insurance by increasing affordable options and empowering small businesses to help their employees gain access to coverage.
The facts don’t lie. By 2018, nearly 50 percent of all U.S. counties are expected to have only one option on the exchange, leaving more than a quarter of a million people with no option for coverage. Not to mention premiums continue to rise with South Carolinians facing a 31 percent increase by next year.
This decision shows what we can do to help the American people as we continue the healthcare debate.
