Scherer Backs Measure to Protect Health Care

DECATUR, Ill. – Concerned about the negative effects a proposed federal health care overhaul would have on the most vulnerable, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, is supporting a resolution that opposes a Washington plan to strip healthcare from millions to give tax breaks to multi-millionaires and billionaires.

“The proposed changes to federal health care would slash life-saving coverage for millions of people in Illinois and raise premiums for many others, only to pad the profits of large insurance companies,” said Scherer. “At a time families across the state are already struggling to make ends meet, I’m urging our members of Congress to oppose any changes to health care that would hurt sick people.”

Scherer is a co-sponsor of House Resolution 445, which notes that the Congressional Budget Office estimates that 24 million people would lose their health care coverage if the American Health Care Act is implemented. In addition, the health care plan would dramatically slash Medicaid funding by approximately $880 billion over a period of ten years. In Illinois, such cuts would mean a $40 billion reduction in Medicaid spending over the same period, impacting an estimated one million Illinois residents who currently have coverage.

“It’s unfair to ask hardworking families to shoulder additional costs associated with Washington politicians’ dangerous health care plan,” said Scherer. “We must do what’s right for Illinois patients and protect their access to critical coverage.”

The health care plan would also allow big insurance companies to deny coverage for a pre-existing condition, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease. Scherer voted for House Bill 2959 this spring which will prohibit insurers selling policies in Illinois from denying care on the basis of a pre-existing condition, regardless of what politicians in Washington say.