What 'repeal' would mean for Kentucky

Today the DSCC issued this press release:

Days after President Obama signed into law historic health care reforms which will close the donut hole for seniors, allow children up to age 26 to stay on their parent’s insurance, end appalling insurance practices, lower the deficit, and increase access to health insurance for thousands of Kentucky residents, Republican Senate candidates Trey Grayson and Rand Paul continue to call for these reforms to be repealed and taken away from Kentuckians.

“Trey Grayson and Rand Paul have redefined March Madness in their zeal for repeal,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. “Grayson and Paul should let Kentucky residents know what reforms they want to take away first - the tax credits for small businesses, the increased funding for Medicaid, allowing children to stay on their parent’s insurance longer, or closing the donut hole for seniors?”

If Health Reform were repealed... a dismal picture for Kentucky.

Seniors:

• An immediate $250 rebate for the roughly 129,000 Kentucky seniors who will hit the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ this year would be revoked


• 724,000 seniors will see higher Medicare premiums and have to pay more for preventive health care

State Budget:

• $7.2 billion in affordability tax credits to 444,000 Kentuckians would be forfeited*


• $11.7 billion in federal Medicaid funding would be lost*

Small Businesses:

• 44,800 small businesses will not get tax credits to help them afford coverage for their employees this year

Individuals:

• Insurance companies will continue to deny coverage to the estimated 73,949 Kentuckians with pre-existing conditions


• Family insurance premiums would increase by $1,430-$2,040**

Children & Young Adults:

• Insurance companies will still be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions


• 382,149 young adults who would have been able to stay on their parents’ insurance plans this year would now be denied coverage

*over 5 years
**by 2016