Delgado Makes the Case for his Public Option Legislation Before Energy and Commerce Committee

It's a pleasure to welcome and thank Representative Delgado from New York. to present his idea, his proposal, which is HR 2000 The Medicare-X Choice Act. Thank you Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess Pallone it is really nice to be with you all this afternoon or this morning. I'm pleased to see the committee considering my bill, the Medicare-X Choice Act and I'm honored to have the opportunity to explain why this is a priority of mine. The title of today's hearing - "Proposals to Achieve Universal Health Care Coverage," a urgent need. Indeed, we are the richest nation in the world, and yet the only developed one without some form of universal coverage. If unable to qualify for Medicare, Tri-Care, or Medicaid Americans are left to fend with a system that is entirely beholden to the profit motives of the private insurance marketplace. As a result, Millions of Americans are priced out of the market and left uninsured or have insurance, but simply can't afford to take advantage of it. It's unacceptable, we have got to achieve universal health care. And I believe we can get there with a public option. I promised my constituents, I would pursue this path and with that promise in mind this spring introduced the Medicare-X Choice Act along with my colleagues including Representative Higgins and Larson Medicare X establishes a public option, a government-run insurance plan available in the marketplace for anyone to buy if they're uninsured or unhappy with their current plan. The effect of a public competitor in the private insurance marketplace will undoubtedly bring down the skyrocketing cost of premiums and deductibles. The plan starts in rural areas where coverage options can be scarce, and it automatically enrolls every child in the CHIP program. Critically Americans who like their current plans like many Union members who have spent years bargaining for what they have now or seniors on Medicare Advantage can keep them. This plan covers every American in just three years. It also attacks the underlying affordability crisis that plagues families across the country, an issue not discussed nearly enough. We start by 1) requiring Medicare to negotiate drug prices, 2) increasing federal support for those who need it by eliminating the subsidy cliff for Americans above 400 percent of the federal poverty line, and increasing increasing the tax credit for those individuals below it. And 3) Authorizing 30 billion over three years for a national reinsurance program. Under this bill, a family of four with an income of $101,000 would see their premiums cut in half. We do all that without costing the federal government, a dime. The Congressional Budget Office recently found that Medicare X would actually add money to the Treasury overtime. Medicare X fulfills the promise of the Affordable Care Act - that health care coverage will be simpler, more accessible and more affordable when families can choose the plan that works best for them. Every time I've held a town hall and I've held quite a few. I hear from folks about the cost of healthcare. Congress needs to get this done so families don't have to choose between paying medical bills or buying groceries. As this Committee considers the healthcare legislative options. I hope you will find two main takeaways from my testimony today. More choice and lower costs - two concepts I hope everyone on this panel can get behind. I thank the Committee again for your time and the opportunity to share my priorities with all of you.