Kelly on Squawk Box: “When People Lose Their Health Care Coverage, Some of Those People Die, Other People go Bankrupt. We’re Trying to Prevent This from Happening”
In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box to underscore that Democrats are fighting to protect Americans’ health care. Kelly shared stories from Arizonans who could face financial hardship and worse if the Affordable Care Act tax credits are not extended.
Sen. Kelly speaks to Andrew Ross Sorkin on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
Watch the full interview here. See key excepts below:
On what Kelly is hearing from Arizonans who depend on affordable health care…
“I don’t think this is about who is in a better or worse position. This is about people. Many of them, my constituents, but they’re all over the country. People like a woman I talked to last week, Emily, whose husband is a pastor. She doesn’t get health care through his work. She’s got three kids. She says the Affordable Care Act, including these subsidies, is what makes her finances work. She’s had a complicated pregnancy in the past. Without this, they go bankrupt.
I talked to another woman who is 63 years old who had a head injury with a $10,000 bill, but because of the ACA, it was $1,000. If her premiums spike, which is what it’s expected, she’s not going to be able to afford health insurance anymore, and then she’s one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.”
On how all it takes to reopen the government is a simple negotiation…
“We are trying to prevent 2 million people from losing their health care coverage. And, Joe, I think you know this. When people lose their health care coverage, some of those people die, other people go bankrupt. We’re trying to prevent this from happening. I’ve seen estimates that we’re talking about tens of thousands of people a year that could have that kind of outcome if this isn’t fixed, and we very simply can get this fixed and open the government.
Here’s the thing, the President has talked about how he wants this fixed. He wants these subsidies to be deal dealt with. So, he agrees we should open the government, and we should fix the subsidy issue under the Affordable Care Act. And that’s all we want. So, I don’t see what the problem is.”
