Springfield, IL — Today, thousands of Illinoisans are finding themselves suffering from a Trump-led health care crisis enabled by Congressional Republicans’ years-long campaign to slash Medicare and Medicaid—programs that have ensured access to quality, affordable health care for the last 61 years. Now, Illinois families are forced to choose between going to the doctor’s office, rationing medications, putting food on the table, or paying their bills — all while Trump and Republicans stuff the pockets of the ultra-wealthy with taxpayer money that should have been used to fund health care.
On the 61st anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez said the following:
“From gutting Medicaid and refusing to extend lifesaving ACA premium tax credits, to jacking up the cost of prescription drugs by ending Medicare Part D subsidies, Donald Trump and Republicans — including Mary Miller, Darin LaHood, and Mike Bost — have made it clear that they have no interest in making health care accessible or life more affordable for Illinois families. Illinois Democrats will do everything in our power to fight against these egregious attacks while working to lower costs and expand health care coverage for Illinois families.”
A reminder: Democrats have been fighting nonstop against Trump and Illinois Republicans’ cruel attacks on health care, including Governor Pritzker, who signed a Medicaid Omnibus bill to help protect patients and hospitals. Democratic candidates up and down the ballot, like U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton, are dedicated to fighting to reverse Republicans’ harmful cuts to Medicaid, lower prescription drug costs, and protect health care for all Illinoisans.
Donald Trump and Illinois Republicans created this health care crisis through their repeated attacks on Illinoisans’ health. First, they passed the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history with their Big Ugly Bill, which rips away healthcare for 470,000 Illinoisans and puts 9 rural hospitals at risk of closure. Then, their refusal to extend Illinoisans’ lifesaving ACA enhanced premium tax credits caused premiums to rise by an average of $542, forcing 395,850 families to either pay more out of pocket or forgo coverage altogether. And now, the Trump administration just announced they are ending Medicare Part D subsidies, a popular program that helped bring down health care costs for Illinoisans 65 and older.
