House Votes on “Keep Your Health Plan Act”

House Votes on "Keep Your Health Plan Act"

Measure could help millions of Americans whose insurance has been cancelled

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives voted for the "Keep Your Health Plan Act" that will allow insurers to continue to offer plans that were cancelled by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The vote was 261-157, with 39 House Democrats joining 222 Republicans in support. Although the President has threatened to veto this measure, it could help millions of Americans who have had their policies canceled due to the President's health care law thus far.

Opponents of the bill argued that if allowed to choose, too many people would reject new policies provided under Obamacare, which could undermine this law. Polling suggests uninsured Americans are not very interested in the ACA, with only 18 percent of uninsured adults having visited the website. A full 55 percent of Americans say they disapprove of the President's signature health care law.

The House action comes after the President reversed course this week, and temporarily delayed the mandatory cancelation of these policies. He encouraged state officials and insurers to try to reinstate those canceled plans, but some states are refusing, and many insurers say it is not feasible. The President meets with insurance executives today.

The bipartisan vote comes amidst the release of internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services, showing that as far back as July, the chief official responsible for building the Healthcare.gov website was deeply worried. He informed colleagues of problems with the project saying, "We believe that our entire build is in jeopardy," and he sought reassurance that "they are not going to crash the plane at take-off." Another administration official warned that the project "appears to be way off track and getting worse."

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative released the following statement:

"We urge both sides to find common ground on effective legislative solutions that will help improve health care for all Americans. Today's vote – which brought a bipartisan majority together – is a sign of progress. Simply put, politicians should not have the power to dictate the insurance that every American must buy – especially if those rules lead millions to lose the policies they like – and force Americans to pay far more for different care. People should have the ability to make their own choices – especially on something as personal as health care.

Our health care system won't be improved by allowing Washington bureaucrats to dictate what people may or may not buy, and if they will have their policies cancelled. This is more of the same failed approach we have already seen. Supporters of the President's health care law must recognize this is a fatally flawed scheme, and work to undo the damage."

Learn more about " The Accountability Project" campaign and LIBRE's efforts to keep elected officials accountable for supporting the flawed Obamacare law that is causing families everywhere to lose their current health care plan and lose their full time jobs. They are elected to make the right decisions for the people – let's keep them accountable.

For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Judy Pino, 202-578-6424 or Brian Faughnan, 571-257-3309.