[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   Unanimous Consent Request--S. 455

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to raise 
awareness about the open enrollment period for health insurance 
marketplace coverage.
  Between now and December 15, Granite Staters and Americans across the 
country can enroll in healthcare plans for 2020 through the Affordable 
Care Act's health insurance marketplaces. Tens of thousands of Granite 
Staters and millions of Americans will be eligible for Federal premium 
tax credits to help pay the cost of monthly premiums as well as 
financial assistance to reduce the cost of annual deductibles. I am sad 
to say the Trump administration refuses to be a reliable partner in 
helping to spread the word about open enrollment.
  For the third year in a row, we have an administration that has 
focused on sabotaging the Affordable Care Act instead of raising 
awareness for open enrollment. This administration is even focusing 
resources on promoting enrollment and junk health plans that don't 
provide coverage for preexisting conditions and that don't meet the 
Affordable Care Act's comprehensive coverage requirements.
  After failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the Senate, the 
Trump administration is making an end-run around Congress, trying to 
dismantle the ACA through regulations, administrative actions, and 
lawsuits in the Federal court.
  As we can see in this chart, 2 years ago, the administration cut 
funding for advertising and outreach efforts to promote open enrollment 
by 90 percent. The administration went from $100 million--we can see on 
that bar--down to $10 million in 2017 and $10 million in 2018 and $10 
million in 2019.
  These advertising cuts are pennywise and pound foolish. They are part 
of the administration's concerted attempt to keep Americans in the dark 
about what their insurance options are.
  Federal advertising on television and through digital platforms and 
other media is critical to drawing a healthy and balanced mix of 
consumers into the marketplace. In fact, research shows that 
California's State-level investments in marketing and advertising for 
open enrollment generated a 3-to-1 return on investment through lower 
premiums from a more balanced risk pool.
  By refusing to adequately promote open enrollment, the administration 
is forcing our insurance markets to miss out on an opportunity to 
improve the markets, to lower premiums for consumers, and to ensure a 
healthy health insurance market--no pun intended--throughout this 
country.
  That is why I introduced the MORE Health Education Act--to restore 
those health insurance marketplace advertising dollars and to increase 
outreach funding back to the $100 million a year. My bill would also 
prohibit the administration from using any of these funds to promote 
short-term plans or junk plans--plans that don't comply with the 
Affordable Care Act's requirements for preexisting condition 
protections among many other provisions that provide real insurance 
coverage for people who need it.
  The Congressional Budget Office projects that approximately 500,000 
more people would enroll in the health insurance marketplace or 
Medicaid coverage each year as a result of my legislation. That is half 
a million people who would be insured and be able to better take care 
of themselves and their families, and they would have access to primary 
care, to preventive services, and to a wide variety of other services 
they need and that they would be afforded under the essential health 
benefits of the Affordable Care Act.
  My bill would also result in a reduction in marketplace premiums 
thanks to the increased enrollment from a more balanced risk pool. It 
would be a win-win all around.
  Mr. President, at this time, as in legislative session, I ask 
unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged from further 
consideration of S. 455 and the Senate proceed to its immediate 
consideration. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Senator from Indiana.