Rhode Island’s congressional representatives and others are condemning the bill unveiled by U.S. House Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Representative David Cicilline says the bill would hurt Rhode Islanders.

The Republicans’ plan does away with the requirement that individuals have health insurance, though it does allow insurers to charge more for people whose coverage lapses. It would end expanded Medicaid coverage by 2020. And it would provide people with tax credits – up to $14,000 per family – to buy health insurance.

Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) says we need more information about the bill’s potential impacts.

“House Republicans are attempting to jam through a proposal even before the Congressional Budget Office does its financial analysis of the legislation which would let us know what the actual costs are, what are the benefits of the proposal, and what the implications would be.”

Cicilline says the bill in its current state would roll back funding for seniors and women.

In a statement, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) said, “Republicans have engaged in a seven-year mission to demolish the Affordable Care Act, a law that has expanded health coverage to approximately 20 million Americans and more than 100,000 Rhode Islanders.  Regrettably, their single-minded focus on gutting the law has eclipsed any legitimate policy solutions to ensure Americans aren’t harmed by this rushed and ill-conceived alternative.”

Gov. Gina Raimondo also issued a statement condemning the Republicans’ plan: ”President Trump’s plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act puts thousands of Rhode Islanders at risk of losing the care they need and makes healthcare more expensive for thousands of Rhode Islanders who can least afford it. I will do everything in my power to oppose Trumpcare, which benefits millionaires at the expense of hardworking Rhode Islanders and would destroy our progress to provide affordable, quality healthcare to almost all of our people. We must not allow newly covered elderly and working Rhode Islanders to lose access to care. Rhode Islanders’ lives are at stake.”

Republicans say the plan replaces a law that drove up costs and imposed an unfair mandate on individuals to buy health insurance.