[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 34 (Monday, February 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Repealing and Replacing ObamaCare

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, 2 weeks ago, major health insurer Humana 
announced its decision to completely withdraw from ObamaCare exchanges 
for 2018. The company decision was not particularly surprising. Humana 
had already sharply reduced its participation in the exchanges for 
2017, but the decision did confirm yet again that President Obama's 
healthcare law is on its last legs.
  Choices on the exchanges declined sharply for 2017 as insurer after 
insurer cut back on participation. Nearly one-third of U.S. counties 
have just one choice of insurer on their exchange for 2017. Meanwhile 
premiums on the exchanges are soaring. Exchange premiums increased a 
staggering 25 percent on average for 2017. That is a 25-percent premium 
increase for just 1 year. How many working families can afford a 25-
percent increase in their healthcare premiums for 1 year?
  Things are even worse in some States. Seven States saw an average 
premium increase of more than 50 percent for 1 year. It is no surprise 
that many people who have ObamaCare insurance have found they can't 
afford to actually use their plan. Well, Democrats can talk about 
coverage all they want, but coverage doesn't mean much if you can't 
afford to actually take advantage of it.
  It is time to give the American people some relief. Over the next few 
weeks, Congress will continue with the process of repealing and 
replacing ObamaCare. Our priority is replacing ObamaCare with 
personalized, patient-centered healthcare that is affordable for every 
American. ObamaCare was supposed to lower healthcare costs for 
Americans, but it has spectacularly failed to do so. Our reform efforts 
will focus on keeping healthcare affordable, including increasing 
competition, expanding innovation, and increasing flexibility.
  ObamaCare has defaulted to a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes 
to healthcare. That means that many Americans have found themselves 
paying for healthcare that they don't need or want.
  We need much more flexibility in insurance plans. A thriving 
healthcare system would offer a wide variety of choices that would 
allow Americans to pick a plan that is tailored to their needs. We also 
need to give Americans the tools to better manage their healthcare and 
to control costs. Along with keeping healthcare affordable, we are 
going to focus on restoring decisionmaking power to the American 
people.
  ObamaCare has put Washington bureaucrats in charge of healthcare 
decisions that should be made by individuals in consultation with their 
doctor. We are going to move control away from Washington and give it 
back to individuals. We are also going to ensure that States have the 
power to innovate and embrace healthcare solutions that work for 
individuals and employers in their States.
  Our healthcare system wasn't perfect before ObamaCare--nobody is 
denying that--but ObamaCare has just made things worse. The American 
people are ready for healthcare reform that actually works, and that is 
exactly what Republicans are going to give them.