NEWS: Senator Blunt Rochester Delivers Floor Remarks on Rising Health Care Costs

The Senator's full remarks can be viewed here.

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) today delivered remarks on the Senate floor to highlight the dire consequences facing Delawareans due to skyrocketing health care costs. Senator Blunt Rochester also previewed a bill she plans to introduce tomorrow, December 4, to address this crisis: the Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act.

Below are Senator Blunt Rochester's remarks, as delivered:

We are 12 days away from the deadline for Americans to get health care coverage starting January 1^st. Twelve days. Time is running out for us in Congress to act. Ultimately, we can all agree on one thing: Health care in America is unaffordable for families, for farmers, and for small businesses alike.

This morning, the HELP Committee held a hearing called: "Making Health Care Affordable Again-Healing a Broken System." Many ideas were shared, but walking out of that hearing room only heightened my sense of urgency. Just two weeks ago, Senator Coons, Representative McBride, and I met with the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, and the high cost of health care took up three-quarters of the meeting! And, like many Senators here, my office has received phone calls and emails about how devastating a lapse in ACA tax credits would be for our constituents.

James from Selbyville, Delaware reached out to my office to tell me his story. He said: "My family's ACA premium will increase 110% without the continuation of the enhanced premium subsidy" - 110%. Let's break that down.

The average income for a family of four in Sussex County, Delaware is $78,000 a year. With a 110% increase, their premium could jump from $241 a month to $507 a month! That's a monthly increase of $266. That's more than the current premium costs! The increased cost works out to an additional $3,192 a year. How are families supposed to afford this? How is James supposed to keep his family healthy and pay the rent, utilities, and groceries. Costs are already high and through the roof for all of these things. It's time we approach the health care crisis with the urgency our constituents deserve.

Which is why, tomorrow, I'll be introducing a new bill: the Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act. And here are five ways this bill will help people like James.

First, it would extend the ACA tax credits for three years, which would prevent health insurance premiums from spiking. Second, it would make it easier for working people who want coverage to enroll by cutting red tape because we all have enough on our plates, and no one needs more paperwork to fill out. Third, it would force insurance companies to be transparent about enrollment opportunities, so that no one falls through the cracks. Fourth, it would protect consumers from surprise premium bills. And fifth, it would lower out-of-pocket costs for consumers by reversing the harmful Trump administration regulations that increased premiums, deductibles, and cost sharing back in June.

Senator Wyden and I are introducing this bill because it's time for Congress to stand up for people like James and his family.

Because no one should have to choose between rent and health care-

Between groceries and a check-up-

Between keeping the lights on or paying for chemo.

It's long overdue we addressed the health crisis, and lowered costs for everyday Americans. 12 days. Twelve days to ensure people get their health care coverage. We have no time to waste, and I urge my colleagues to consider my bill.

The clock is ticking. Thank you and I yield back.

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Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester represents Delaware in the United States Senate where she serves on the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Environment and Public Works; and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.