On ACA Anniversary, Georgia Democrats Work to Lower Health Care Costs While Republicans Plan to Raise Them

Twelve years ago today, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, lowering health care costs for millions and making it easier for Georgians with pre-existing conditions to get quality, affordable coverage. Now, while Democrats are building on the ACA by expanding access and lowering costs, Republicans have indicated what they’d do if Herschel Walker or one of his GOP rivals win Georgia’s Senate seat in 2022 and the GOP takes control of Congress in 2022: repeal the Affordable Care Act. 

If the ACA is dismantled – as Senator Ron Johnson confirmed would be on the Republican agenda if they regain power – 1.8 million Georgians with pre-existing conditions would lose insurance protections, Georgians with private insurance could see their premiums skyrocket, and more than 701,000 Georgians could lose their insurance altogether. It’s the latest in Republicans’ cost-raising agenda for Georgians, as NRSC Chair Senator Rick Scott released a plan last month to raise taxes on nearly 42.5 percent of Georgians and jeopardize Medicare and Social Security for Georgia seniors.

But thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, over 700,000 Georgians who get insurance through the ACA marketplace are now seeing reduced health care costs, despite Brian Kemp and every single Georgia Republican’s unanimous opposition to the American Rescue Plan and Chris Carr’s failed efforts to repeal the ACA in court last year. 

As Georgia Democrats commemorate the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia, released the following statement:

“Twelve years ago today, Democrats passed the Affordable Care Act amid unprecedented Republican opposition – drastically reducing our state’s uninsured rate, improving coverage, and protecting Georgians with pre-existing conditions. Over a decade later, Georgia Democrats are still leading the fight to expand access to affordable health care for all Georgians, regardless of income, background, or zipcode. 

“Senator Reverend Warnock secured hundreds of millions of dollars for rural health care providers and cut taxes for hardworking Georgia families while leading the fight in the Senate to lower the cost of insulin and prescription drugs. And as Governor, Stacey Abrams will expand Medicaid access to over 500,000 Georgians, creating more than 60,000 jobs and saving rural hospitals. Meanwhile, Herschel Walker, Brian Kemp, David Perdue, and every Georgia Republican would be a rubber stamp for their party’s agenda: raising taxes on seniors and working families, jeopardizing Medicare and Social Security, and spiking health care costs while gutting coverage for 1.8 million Georgians with pre-existing conditions. The choice for Georgia voters could not be more clear.”

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