SECRET healthcare bill

Questions asked: 

My question to you as a Democratic/Republican Senator is:
​With what in the above paragraph do you disagree as you contemplate voting “yes” or “no” for this secret health care bill?

Thank you letters were sent to Elected Official Responders below:

​Tammy Baldwin (D),Richard Blumenthal (D), Roy Blunt (R),  John Boozman (R), Ben Cardin (D), 

Tom Carper(D), ​Bill Cassidy (R), Susan Collins (R), Tom Cotton (R),

Tammy Duckworth (D), Dick Durbin (D),  Dianne Feinstein (D), ​Al Franken (D), Cory

Gardner (R), Chuck Grassley (R), Kamala Harris (D), Mazie Hirono (D),

John Kennedy (R), Angus King, Jr. (I), ​Amy Klobuchar (D), ​Joe Markey (D), Mitch

McConnell (R), Jerry Moran (R), David ​Perdue (R), ​Luther Strange (R), Elizabeth Warren

(D), Rodger Wicker (R), Todd Young (R)

Third Sendings were sent to Elected Official Non-Responders below:
​
​Michael Bennet (D), Thad Cochran (R), Chris Coons (D), Joe Donnelly (D), Joni Ernst (R),

Jeff Flake (R), Johnny Isakson (R), ​​John McCain (R), Clare McCaskill (D), Mitch McConnell (R),

Lisa Murkowski (R), Chris Murphy (D), Bill Nelson (D), Rand Paul (R), Gary Peters (D), ​Pat

Roberts (R), Marco Rubio (R), Brain Schatz (D), Richard Shelby (R), Dan Sullivan (R), Chris Van

​Hollen (R), 

Thank-you letter:

The MceZ Core Principle for July is INNOVATION! 

On July 6, 2017, Walter Schaub, Director of the Office of Governmental Ethics, submitted his letter of resignation to President Trump stating that public service employees are required to put public trust and loyalty to the Constitution and ethical principles above private gain. It is reported by npr that during the six months between October 2008 and March 2009, as the Obama presidency was taking shape, it got 733 public contacts, such as calls, letters and emails. During the October 2016 to March 2017 period in the Trump era, it was swamped with 39,105 contacts — an increase of 5,235 percent between October, 2008.

July 31, 2017

Open Letter

Dear Senator _________, 

Thank you for your response of July 5 to my letter of June 24, 2017. As this is my third sending, this document will be published in Mcezupedia. If you care to respond to my letter at a later date, please do so and it will be added to the published document. As you already know, this is too important to be a partisan bill. A well written healthcare bill requires a minimum of one year of public hearings and debate including discussion of a single-payer national healthcare system, Committee review and multi-partisan input. I look forward to hearing from you and contacting you in the future.

Best Regards,
Doris Hale
Policy and Disclaimer Statement
www.MceZ.org

Original and Third Sending Letter:

The MceZ Core Principle for August is Integrity! 

On July 6, 2017, Walter Schaub, Director of the Office of Governmental Ethics, submitted his letter of resignation to President Trump stating that public service employees are required to put public trust and loyalty to the Constitution and ethical principles above private gain. It is reported by npr that during the six months between October 2008 and March 2009, as the Obama presidency was taking shape, it got 733 public contacts, such as calls, letters and emails. During the October 2016 to March 2017 period in the Trump era, it was swamped with 39,105 contacts — an increase of 5,235 percent between October, 2008.

Open Letter
THIRD SENDING
August 6, 2017

Dear __________________, 

As this is my third sending, this document will be published in Mcezupedia at mcez.org. If you care to respond to my letter at a later date, please do so and it will be added to the published document. As you already know, this is too important to be a partisan bill. A well written healthcare bill requires a minimum of one year of public hearings and debate including discussion of a single-payer national healthcare system, Committee review and multi-partisan input. I look forward to hearing from you and contacting you in the future.

The MceZ Core Principle for June is FREEDOM!

Media reporting: On Thursday, June 22, the Tax Cut bill for the rich was finally revealed. 850 billion dollars will be cut from Medicaid transferring trillions of dollars from seniors, children, the poor, the disabled, the working class and the middle class to the 400 wealthiest families in the US. ADAPT protesters consisting of 41 Citizens with disabilities, staged a sit-in in front of Senator Mitch McConnell's office to confront power with the truth that quality, affordable Healthcare is not just for the privileged. We live in a democracy that is diverse in every way. Let's follow their lead: Stand for Freedom. Stand for Justice. Stand for Equality. Stand for the right of EVERY citizen to have quality, affordable healthcare. The survival of our country is based on these values. Also reported, Donald Trump has doubled his income to 191 million dollars on the backs of tax paying citizens, business conflicts of interests and Emoluments.

Open Letter
SECOND SENDING: June 27, 2017
June 17, 2017

Subject: Thirteen White Male Republican Senators and the Secret Health Care Bill they are afraid to share with the American people.

Dear Senator __________,

Thank you for your service. 

The headlines are screaming about the secret GOP Health Care Bill that 13 White Male Republican Senators have written in private because Republican Senators are afraid of backlash from a diverse population who will have to live with or barely survive the consequences. The attitude appears to be “We the People” being viewed as “You the Enemy” rather than as taxpaying citizens concerned for their and their family's well-being, for whom these senators work and from whom they receive their salaries. The Senators working on the Senate health care bill are: McConnell (Kentucky), Hatch (Utah), Alexander (Tennessee), Enzi (Wyoming), Thune (South Dakota), Cruz (Texas), Lee (Utah), Cotton (Arkansas ), Gardner (Colorado), Barrasso (Wyoming), Cornyn (Texas) and Portman (Ohio). 

This behavior could be considered as arrogant, cowardly, undemocratic and unethical.

My question to you as a Republican Senator is: With what in the above paragraph do you disagree as you contemplate voting “yes” or “no” for this secret health care bill?

I look forward to hearing from you soon. I will contact you again if I have not received a response.
Thank you.

Best Regards,
Doris Hale 
Policy and Disclaimer Statement
​www.MceZ.org

Responses:

From Senator Baldwin

August 14, 2017 

Dear Mrs. Beck:
     Thank you for contacting me about congressional efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (P.L.111-148). It is good to hear from you. 
     It has been over seven years since the ACA was passed into law, and while there is more we need to do to improve health care, we have seen progress in strengthening the health security of families and businesses. Insurance companies can no longer issue caps on coverage, kick people off their coverage just for getting sick, or discriminate against any American based on pre-existing medical conditions, health status, or gender, and young adults can now stay on their parents' insurance plans up to age 26. Under the law, millions of Americans have signed up for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. And, the ACA has helped to significantly reduce the uninsured rate – from 16 percent in 2010 to a historic low of 8.6 percent in 2016.
     In May, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (H.R.1628), which would have repealed critical components of the ACA and puts millions of people at risk of losing health care coverage or paying more for less care. H.R.1628 was then sent to the Senate for consideration. The Senate drafted its version of the bill, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act, behind closed doors, despite repeated calls for Senate leadership to work in a bipartisan, open and public process. I strongly opposed this legislation.
     In July, the Senate defeated the Better Care Reconciliation Act, which would have put insurance companies back in charge by allowing them to raise premiums and deductibles, cut coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and targeted older Americans by allowing insurers to charge them more. It also would have cut and capped Medicaid, putting support for special education, people with disabilities, and those struggling with opioid and other substance use disorders at risk. I did not support this partisan effort to undermine our health care system and repeal current insurance protections.
     Moving forward, we must work together to lower health care costs and I believe we should start by addressing the rising cost of prescription drugs. I have authored the bipartisan FAIR Drug Pricing Act (S.1131) with my colleague Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to address the rising cost of prescription drugs by holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for price increases. I will continue to work to move this legislation through the Senate. In addition, it was recently announced that the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold hearings beginning the week of September 4th on the actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance market. As a member of this committee, I look forward to working across party lines and playing an active role in this effort to improve our health care system.
     Finally, one of the primary factors causing uncertainty in the health insurance markets is the Trump Administration’s threats to withhold critical cost-sharing payments that help lower costs for more than 110,000 Wisconsinites. Health care providers need certainty, yet President Trump has issued threats to create chaos and disrupt our health care system. In fact, he tweeted “let ObamaCare implode, then deal” on July 27, 2017. Playing partisan political games with health care is simply wrong. Instead, we should be providing certainty to the health insurance markets. That’s why I have cosponsored legislation to stabilize the health insurance Marketplace and provide certainty with cost-sharing payments that lower health insurance costs for people.
     As I have said throughout this debate, we must work together to make things better by stabilizing the insurance market and making health care more affordable. I strongly believe that if both parties look past the partisan debate in Washington, we can find common ground on solutions that work. The people of Wisconsin did not send me to Washington to take people’s health care away, and I will not support repealing the guaranteed health insurance protections and care that people have today. Please know that I will continue to fight against short-sighted attempts to undermine the ACA and that I am committed to working to improve the law to ensure that Wisconsin families and businesses receive the quality, affordable coverage they deserve.
     Once again, thank you for contacting my office. It is important for me to hear from the people of Wisconsin on the issues, thoughts and concerns that matter most to you. If I can be of further assistance, please visit my website at www.baldwin.senate.gov for information on how to contact my office.

​Sincerely,
Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator

From Senator Blumenthal

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal
Aug 18, 2017
​
Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for your message regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicaid, and the attempts
to fundamentally and negatively change our country’s health care system. I appreciate hearing from
you and understand how important these issues are to you.
     I have long believed that access to affordable, quality health care is a basic right for all Americans.
The ACA has been an important step towards improving the health care coverage people have today by
expanding access to affordable care for the uninsured, controlling runaway health care costs, and
ending unfair health insurance industry practices. Any attempt to repeal the ACA is shortsighted and
would irreparably harm millions of Americans from all walks of life. Rather, I believe we should be
working to improve the ACA so that more individuals and families can access more affordable health
care.
     The success of the ACA in the eyes of the American people is what ensured the proposals to repeal
the ACA failed to pass the Senate. The millions of Americans who never gave up – who relentlessly
spoke out and stood up with caring and conviction – emphasized more powerfully than ever that these
short-sighted, hastily drafted proposals threatened the health and well-being of millions of Americans
and their families. That is why I strongly opposed these proposals on Thursday, July 27th and Friday,
July 28th. The Senate’s votes were testaments to the citizens who went to town halls, called Congress,
and posted on Facebook.
     While it is not perfect, and despite efforts by President Trump to sabotage the law, the ACA helps
the American people in many ways. As a result of this law, an estimated 25,000 young people in
Connecticut can remain on their family's insurance coverage until 26 years of age. Additionally,
insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to deny coverage or charge more because of any
patient's pre-existing condition or just because they are a woman, and all patients have access to free
preventive care services. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, family
premiums in Connecticut are $4,000 lower than they would have been if premiums had grown at the
same rate as before the ACA was implemented. Further, seniors are saving millions on their
medications because the law is closing the prescription drug donut hole.
     Connecticut has also received tens of millions of federal dollars to cover low-income families on
Medicaid, to combat fraud and waste, and to scrutinize unreasonable insurance premiums. Our state's
community health centers have expanded and modernized their services with robust federal assistance,
and our small businesses have access to tax credits for the cost of providing their employees with
health insurance.
     The recent efforts to repeal the ACA and replace it with grotesquely cruel and costly proposals such
as the misnamed Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) or the “skinny repeal” amendment failed
because they would dramatically decrease the number of Americans with affordable coverage. BCRA
would have led to skyrocketing premiums, lowered tax credits for low and middle-income individuals,
and defunded Planned Parenthood – all to give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. In fact, the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicted each proposal would have left millions – especially
those with pre-existing conditions – without health insurance.
     BCRA would have also fundamentally changed Medicaid, ending federal support for its expansion
and creating per capita caps or block grants that would have devastating implications. In Connecticut,
nearly 44 percent of those covered by Medicaid are children and Medicaid covers almost half of the
key medication that treats opioid addiction. If BCRA were passed into law, Connecticut would lose up
to $1.6 billion in federal funding for Medicaid over the next ten years and up to $1 billion for the
expansion of Medicaid. This would have catastrophic consequences for our state, leading to a huge loss
in coverage and loss in services for our most vulnerable populations.
     We must now come together, reaching across partisan divides. We stand ready to work on
commonsense improvements to our healthcare system with our colleagues across the aisle. These
positive steps include proposals I have supported that will make federal cost-sharing reductions
permanent, thereby helping low-income individuals afford coverage and keeping premiums down,
reduce drug prices, which have been a driving force behind premium increases, and give insurers the
certainty they need to enter new markets and offer affordable coverage.
     Thank you again for your message. I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind. Please feel free to
contact me with any additional questions or concerns.

​Sincerely,
Richard Blumenthal
United States Senator

From Senator Blunt

June30, 2017

Dear Doris:
     Thank you for contacting me about the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) and health care reform.
In the Senate, I continue my work on policies that allow for greater competition in the health care
industry, while directing federal resources into programs that expand access to treatment.
     Congress’ goal in health care reform should be crafting a system that individuals and families can rely
on. It means providing competitive options for insurance coverage and access to health care services.
In addition, an important part of the discussion is ensuring access to quality, affordable coverage for
individuals with pre-existing conditions.
     As you know, a discussion draft of the BCRA was recently released, and Senators have an opportunity
to review the full text and offer changes to improve it. Should this draft bill progress and reach the
Senate floor for consideration, it will be subjected to an amendment process which will allow all
members of the Senate to submit and vote on amendments.
My hope is that we will be able to find common ground on solutions that address the needs of
Missourians and citizens across this great country.
     I appreciate your input on this important issue. I have received lots of stories and specific information
from individuals all over the state that I will keep in mind as the Senate continues to discuss health care
reform.
     Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to continuing our conversation on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RoyBlunt) about the important
issues facing Missouri and the country.I also encourage you to visit my website
(blunt.senate.gov) to learn more about where I stand on the issues and sign-up for my e-newsletter.

Sincere regards,
Roy Blunt
United States Senator

From Senator  Boozman

June 27, 2017

Dear Doris,
     Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on the current state of healthcare in our country. It is good to hear from you.
     Like most Americans, I believe our healthcare system needs substantive reform. We can all agree that our healthcare system was broken before the passage of Obamacare, but unfortunately that law did little to address the rising cost of health care. Repealing this failed law and replacing it with policy that makes health care affordable for every Arkansan is a priority for me.
     I’ve heard from many Arkansans who have expressed their thoughts on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) which was passed by the House of Representatives on May 4, 2017. While this legislation isn't perfect, it is a step in the right direction, and there is still much work to be done as the Senate recently released a discussion draft of legislation to reform our health care system.
     As my colleagues in the Senate and I begin the process of debating this legislation, we must remember there is a lot at stake given that the health care sector represents 18 percent of our economy and impacts all Americans. As such, reforms must be carefully thought out with the involvement of all stakeholders.
I worked as a healthcare provider in our state for 25 years as an optometrist, and understand any reforms to our healthcare system require thorough and thoughtful debate. It is critical that we implement responsible reforms. Moreover, we must preserve and protect the role of patients, providers and physicians as the principle healthcare decision-makers, not the federal government.
     It is time for us to come together and find commonsense solutions to our challenges. America functions best when we work through our differences and tackle our country's problems. Moving forward, I am committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reform our healthcare system so it makes sense for all Americans. Please be assured that I will take your thoughts into consideration as we continue this discussion.
     Again, thank you for contacting me to share your views. Please visit www.boozman.senate.gov to sign up for my e-newsletter, request assistance with a federal agency, or learn more about my efforts on behalf of the people of Arkansas. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
​
Sincerely, John Boozman
U.S. Senator

From Senator Cardin

August 2, 2017

Dear Doris,
      Thank you for expressing your opposition to partisan attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act
(ACA). Misguided, ill-conceived efforts, such as the House-passed American Health Care Act
(AHCA), fundamentally contradict the promise Congress made to the American people: to ensure
access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality health care for all. Senate Democrats, and I will
continue to do all we can to stop this effort to sabotage America’s health care system just as we were
making progress in improving health outcomes and slowing the pace of escalating costs.
     I am fighting to protect the ACA, due to the crucial reforms it made to our health care system,
reforms that benefit consumers and provide increased access to care. The ACA prevents insurers from
denying coverage to individuals with a pre-existing condition, eliminates lifetime caps on coverage,
and allows for children to stay on their parent’s insurance plan until the age of 26. The ACA also
provides individuals the ability to receive preventative health care services such as cancer screenings,
immunizations, and wellness visits at no cost. Additionally, the ACA provides premium tax credits to
individuals with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level, in order to help them afford the cost
of health insurance on the individual marketplace.
     As you may know, recently the Republican health plan to repeal and replace the ACA narrowly
passed the House, which would cause an estimated 24 million Americans to lose health coverage by
2026. Nearly every provision of the bill and proposed conservative amendments would jeopardize
coverage for our nation’s most vulnerable communities and make essential care more expensive for
hard-working families; all while providing significant tax cuts for the wealthy. Consumers would pay
more, women would pay more, families fighting mental illness and opioid abuse would pay more,
seniors would pay more, Americans with pre-existing conditions would pay more, despite the
President’s proclamations to the contrary. Furthermore, the estimated $800 billion cut to Medicaid
alone would do immense damage to our country, public health, and economy. Ensuring that 14 million
Americans lose their health insurance in the next year under the AHCA, is not the way to improve our
health care system.
     Senate Republicans attempted to pass their own versions of legislation to repeal the ACA. Make
no mistake, this legislation would have done just as much, if not greater harm, to our health care
system. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the most recent version of
this repeal legislation would have resulted in 16 million people losing their health insurance by 2021.
Additionally, average premiums for those who purchase individual polices through the marketplaces or
directly from insurers, would have increased by approximately 20 percent a year from 2018 through
2026. While I am thankful that this bill failed to pass, I remain mindful that Republicans have voted to
repeal the ACA dozens of times, and I suspect that this time may not be the last.
     It’s time to move on. The American people want us to work together. We should move forward
with bipartisan improvements to our current health system and work to stabilize insurance markets. I
recently introduced the Keeping Health Insurance Affordable Act (S. 1511), which builds on the current
system, provides more stability in the individual insurance marketplace, and lowers premiums and
overall health care costs.
     My legislation would permanently fund the ACA’s cost-sharing reduction
payments for low-income Americans, establish a reinsurance program which assists insurers in
reducing premiums in the individual marketplace, expand who qualifies for the ACA’s premiums tax
credits to those who earn up to 600 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, increase competition in the
individual marketplace by establishing a public health insurance plan to compete with private insurers,
and lower prescription drug costs by allowing the federal government to negotiate the price of
prescription drugs under Medicare and provide rebates to Medicare for drugs dispensed to low-income
individuals. I look forward to working with my colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to improve our
nation’s health care system using the foundation of the ACA.
     As Congress and the Administration continue the healthcare debate, please know that I am
committed to ensuring Marylanders’ access to the high-quality, affordable health care they need and
deserve. Again, I appreciate your willingness to share your perspective on this important issue. If I can
be of any further assistance with this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Senator Cardin

From Senator  Carper 

October 20, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding proposed legislation from Senators
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to overturn major portions of the Affordable Care
Act. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter. Like you, I was pleased when the Senate
ultimately decided not to vote on these damaging and far-reaching proposals that would have
dismantled our nation’s health care system. With that in mind, I believe that now is the time to return to
regular order and continue bipartisan efforts to stabilize and strengthen our health insurance
marketplaces.
     I have heard time and time again from constituents who are clamoring for Congress to work together
on a bipartisan solution on health care. I agree with you that we should refocus our efforts on coming
up with a bipartisan and common sense solution instead of rushing legislation that would strip health
care coverage from tens of millions of Americans. I have long said that the Affordable Care Act isn’t a
silver bullet to fix all the problems in our health care system. I believe we must continue the progress
we’ve made since the law was enacted. We can reduce health care costs and give consumers better
choices if we get serious about how to deliver results for the American people.
     I also agree with you that the Graham-Cassidy proposal would have led to Americans receiving fewer
health care services while facing higher out-of-pocket costs. The policies in this bill would have caused
millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, end the Medicaid program as we know it, permit
insurance companies to discriminate based on pre-existing conditions, eliminate essential health
benefits, all the while throwing the individual market into chaos immediately. Moreover, it disrupted
the bipartisan process to stabilize the marketplaces and fix the parts of the Affordable Care Act that
need to be fixed, while preserving the parts that need to be preserved.
     It is my hope that the Senate will continue its work across both sides of the aisle to find ways to move
forward together to improve and build on the Affordable Care Act and strengthen our country’s health
care system. Since the Graham-Cassidy measure was not considered, I am pleased that Senators Lamar
Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) have reached a deal in the Senate Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions Committee to stabilize the individual market. Please be assured that I will continue
to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to send a bipartisan bill to the president. Should I
have the opportunity to consider any proposal as it relates to the Affordable Care Act, I will be certain
to keep your views in mind.
     Again, thank you sincerely for contacting me regarding this matter. I am encouraged to see so many
Delawareans, like you, take an interest in significant issues like this. I hope you will not hesitate to
contact me in the future about this or other matters of importance to you.
With best personal regards, I am,
​
Sincerely,
Tom Carper
United States Senator

From Senator Cassidy

July 6, 2017
​
Ms. Doris Hale
     Thank you for inquiring about my thoughts on health care reform. It is good to hear from you, and I
appreciate you taking the time to write to me. Having served uninsured patients at hospitals and
community clinics for decades, I too am concerned with the problems facing our healthcare system. As
a physician, I have witnessed firsthand the inequalities in access and quality of care faced by the
uninsured. Finding solutions that allow healthcare providers to deliver quality, affordable care to their
patients is one of my primary goals in Congress.
     As your Senator, I am working to achieve these goals and provide an alternative to the government-run
system set in place by President Obama. I recently introduced the Patient Freedom Act of 2017. You
will be pleased to know that I actively sought out my current position on the Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in order to more effectively develop such changes.
     The Senate released a working draft health care bill that is still being worked on. Crafting legislation
of this magnitude is always a multi-step process. This or any health care bill should continue adequate
coverage for people, protect those with preexisting conditions, have fewer mandates, and lower
premiums; the measures by which any bill must be assessed before being voted upon. This publicly
available draft has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office but still needs to be given
opportunity for amendments and debated on the Senate floor all before a vote.
     I will continue to represent the views of my state and do so through hearing from constituents like you.
Please continue to reach out, either by phone or by email, when you have another question or concern.
You can reach my office in Washington DC at 202-224-5824
or submit an email at http://www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact.

​Sincerely,
Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D.

From Senator  Collins

July 10, 2017​

Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding health care reform legislation. I
appreciate your taking the time to do so.
     On June 26, I announced my opposition to the Better Care Reconciliation Act put forward by Senate
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. My decision followed the release of an analysis of the bill by the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO concluded that under the Senate bill, 22
million more Americans would be underinsured, premiums and other out-of-pocket costs for people
nearing retirement would soar, and billions of dollars of costs would shift to state governments. The bill
would also undermine the financial stability of rural hospitals and long-term care facilities, and it could
weaken important benefits and consumer protections for many Americans.
     I also oppose the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA). According to CBO, the number of
Americans without health insurance would increase by 23 million in 2026 if this bill were enacted into
law. As Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, and as a Senator representing the state with the
oldest median age, I am particularly concerned by the impact the bill could have on seniors not yet
eligible for Medicare. We should be focused on putting a system in place that ensures that Americans
have access to affordable health insurance and does not result in taking away people’s coverage. With
an issue as complex and as significant as health care, we should try to achieve a bipartisan reform bill.
Few issues are as important to the American people as health care. It is my hope that Congress will
work in a bipartisan fashion to address carefully the very real health care concerns of Americans.
     Again, thank you for contacting me. I appreciate knowing your views on this matter.

​Sincerely,
Susan M. Collins
United States Senator

From Senator Cotton

June 27, 2017

Dear Doris:
     Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns about the repeal and replacement of the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), otherwise referred to as Obamacare.
I appreciate having the benefit of your views and welcome the opportunity to respond.
     The Affordable Care Act was passed into law with the promise that it would make health insurance just
that, affordable. Contrary to former President Obama’s vow, premiums have skyrocketed by an
average of 25% percent, deductibles now average more than $5,000 for the cheapest plans, and doctor
networks are shrinking. Even worse, many families face a massive tax penalty because they can’t
afford the increasing cost of care. The American people deserve better.
     As bad as it seems now, things will only continue to get worse unless Congress acts to implement
meaningful reform. On May 4, the House passed the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) by a vote
of 217 to 213, sending it to the Senate for further consideration.  Any bill with this level of complexity
merits extended deliberation to avoid repetition of missteps and worsening of conditions, which instead
would lead to a worse health insurance market than the one created under Obamacare. Then and only
then can we hope to truly repeal and replace this disastrous law.
     In tandem with the repeal of select portions of Obamacare, I am committed to working with my
colleagues to devise a full replacement which addresses the failures not only of Obamacare, but also of
the system that predates its passage in 2009.
And please rest assured I will keep your thoughts in mind
while doing so.
     I'm truly honored to serve as your Senator—please know that your interests and affairs have my
unceasing attention.
    Always feel free to call my office at (202) 224-2353 or visit www.cotton.senate.gov.
Sincerely,

From Senator  Duckworth

Aug 24 , 2017

Dear Neighbor,
     Thank you for contacting me to share your views on health care reform. I appreciate you taking the
time to make me aware of your concerns on this important matter.
     On January 12, 2017, the Senate Majority began the process of repealing the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (ACA). On July 27, 2017, Senate Republicans fell one vote short of repealing
major portions of the law. Like you, I was deeply troubled and concerned that this would disrupt our
Nation’s health care system and harm Illinoisans. That is why I voted against all efforts to repeal the
ACA, since the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found each proposal would threaten the
healthcare coverage of millions of Americans.
     I agree that the ACA is not perfect. However, rather than repealing it and replacing it with a far worse
proposal, Congress should work in a bipartisan manner to improve the ACA. We should preserve the
law's successful protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, and keep the ACA's ban on
abusive insurance practices, such as punitive lifetime limits, higher costs for women and discriminatory
medical underwriting that punishes individuals for getting sick. In addition, we should work in a
bipartisan manner to improve marketplace affordability and competition under the ACA. States should
also follow the lead of Illinois and the 31 other States that have expanded Medicaid to help more
Americans access life-saving care.
     Improvements to the ACA would allow more Americans to be covered at lower rates. For example,
adjusting the ACA's advanced premium tax credits to cover more hard-working Americans would
significantly improve affordability for families with modest incomes. I also believe the Secretary of
Health and Human Services should have the authority to modify health insurance rates deemed too
costly or discriminatory. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Protection of Consumers from
Unfair Health Insurance Rate Review Act, which would allow the Secretary or relevant regulator take
corrective action including, denying the rate increase, forcing rate modifications or ordering rebates
when increases are found to be excessive, unjustified or unfairly discriminatory.
     As your Senator, I am committed to working to achieve high-quality, affordable health care for all
Americans. I cannot support any proposal that would eliminate critical patient protections, unfairly
increase costs on working class Americans and give generous tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.
Please be assured that I stand ready to work with any Member of Congress who is willing to develop
and advance proposals that protect patients from abusive practices, lowers health care costs and
guarantees that our nation's dedicated Veterans receive the high quality care they deserve.
     Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue. If you would like more information on my
work in the Senate, please visit my website at www.duckworth.senate.gov. You can access my voting
record and see what I am doing to address today’s most important issues. I hope that you will continue
to share your views and opinions with me and let me know whenever I may be of assistance to you.

​Sincerely,
Tammy Duckworth
United States Senator

From Senator Durbin

October 16, 2017

Dear Doris:
     Thank you for contacting me about the Republican health care repeal bill, also known as the
American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628). I appreciate hearing from you and share your concerns.
Congressional Republicans unveiled their proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable
Care Act (ACA). The American Health Care Act (AHCA), introduced by Representative Diane
Black of Tennessee, would have ended Medicaid as we know it, threw people off their existing
health insurance plans, increased costs for middle-income families and seniors—all while
providing a huge tax cut to the wealthy and jeopardizing the long-term solvency of the Medicare
program.
     After overwhelming opposition to the Senate amended version of the bill, this repeal
legislation failed to pass in the Senate.
     The ACA has helped millions of families. The rate of increase in health care and Medicare
spending is at its lowest level in 50 years. Seniors are saving money on prescription drug costs,
and hospital readmission rates are dropping. Because of the ACA, an additional 650,000
Illinoisans are now receiving health coverage through our state's expanded Medicaid program.
     By cutting billions from the Medicaid program over the next decade, the Republican
replacement plan would have put health coverage for every single one of these people in
jeopardy. The replacement plan would have threatened health care for an estimated one million
Illinoisans and weakened protections for people with pre-existing conditions by giving states the
power to waive essential health benefits and discriminate against people with pre-existing
conditions by charging more or denying coverage.
     While I believe that there are some common sense changes we can make to our health care
system, the destructive results from the Senate amended version of AHCA and a "repeal now and
replace later" measure were too high a price to pay. A full repeal would have been a step
backward for our nation. I strongly oppose any efforts to repeal our health care law and will
continue fighting on behalf of Illinoisans who would be hurt by repeal.
     This is a watershed moment for all of Congress to work together to create a sustainable
health care system that works for everyone. I am willing to work with any of my colleagues who
are committed to prioritizing expanded access to quality health care while controlling costs. I
will continue to work with my staff and health care experts across Illinois to determine the best
way to control health care costs and deliver high quality care to Illinoisans and all Americans. I
also will keep your views in mind as Congress continues health care discussions.
     Thank you again for contacting me. Please feel free to keep in touch.
​
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

From Senator Feinstein

September 18, 2017

Dear Doris:
     Thank you for writing to me about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I appreciate hearing from you, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.
     I understand you have concerns regarding recent attempts by Republicans to repeal and replace the ACA. I am a strong supporter of the ACA, and I vehemently oppose its
repeal. The ACA lowers premium costs for low- and middle-income consumers and requires insurance plans to cover essential benefits, like hospital care, mental health care, and prescription drugs. The law also protects consumers by providing coverage for those with preexisting conditions and by ending lifetime and yearly dollar limits on coverage. I believe it would be a grave mistake to roll back these patient protections, which have expanded health coverage to over 20 million Americans.
     Recently, Republicans in the Senate introduced multiple plans to repeal and replace the ACA. Let’s recap: Under the first Senate bill, at least 22 million Americans would have lost coverage, and Medicaid would have been cut by 35 percent. Under the second Senate bill, up to 32 million Americans would have lost coverage and premiums would have increased by 25 percent more than projected next year. Under the third Senate bill, 16 million Americans would have lost coverage, and Planned Parenthood would have been defunded. These proposals would have been particularly detrimental to the health of Californians, resulting in as many as 700,000 Californians losing their coverage next year alone.
     I voted against these monstrous bills. I believe these proposals are indefensible, and fly in the face of Congress’ role as public servants. I am appalled that Senate Republicans developed the bills in secret and tried to pass them without a single public hearing. This is a stark contrast to when the ACA was passed after nearly 100 committee, roundtable, and public meetings and 25 consecutive days of public debate on the Senate floor.
     Fortunately, each of these horrific proposals were defeated. The failed votes demonstrate that the only path forward on health care is to work in a bipartisan manner to improve the ACA. I recently proposed the “Affordable Health Insurance for the Middle Class Act” (S.1307), which would eliminate the existing cutoff (400% of the federal poverty level) for financial help to pay for health insurance. Instead, the current tax credits would gradually phase out and ensure that people pay no more than 9.69 percent of their income for premiums on the individual market. By addressing these affordability issues within the individual market, it is my hope to make health care more affordable for middle class families.
     The time has come for us to work across the aisle to build on the progress made by the ACA, rather than tear it apart. We owe it to the American people to improve our health care system, and I stand ready and willing to do that.
     Please know that I have made careful note of your concerns, and I will continue to be vocal in my opposition to any reduction in health care coverage for Californians. I will also keep your letter in mind as I fight to guarantee that all Americans have quality and affordable health insurance.
     Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at feinstein.senate.gov. You can also follow me online at YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at feinstein.senate.gov/newsletter.

Sincerely yours,
​ Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

From Senator  Franken

June 29, 2017

Dear Doris,
     Thank you for contacting me about the recent proposals to repeal the Affordable Care Act. I appreciate
hearing from you about this proposed legislation.
     One of my top priorities as Senator is to help make sure that every Minnesotan has high quality,
affordable health care. Unfortunately, the Republican health bill would do the opposite. Senate
Republican leaders went to great lengths to work on this terrible health bill in secret-even keeping it
from other Senators in their own party-and now we know the reason why. This bill is unpalatable and
indefensible. It would result in 22 million more people being uninsured, undermine critical nationwide
protections for people with pre-existing conditions, drive up costs for seniors, put rural hospitals and
nursing facilities at-risk of closure, and end Medicaid as we know it.
     This bill would hurt Minnesota families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities in order to give a massive tax break to the very richest Americans. And while I'm glad that Senate Republicans have delayed the vote on their health plan, this isn't cause for celebration. This bill, which has been misguided from the start, needs be thrown out altogether.
     I urge Americans to keep speaking out and keep telling your stories. They matter. And I have called on
my Republican colleagues to do what we should have been doing all along-working together to address
the real problems people are facing, like the skyrocketing costs of prescriptions drugs or lack of
competition on the insurance exchanges. We can and should build on the Affordable Care Act and fix
what needs fixing in a bipartisan way. The American people are counting on it.
     One improvement we could make would be a public option to increase competition and cut premium
costs. In January 2017, I helped introduce the CHOICE Act, which would create a public option subject
to all the same requirements that apply to other plans offered on Obamacare exchanges. It would offer
the same premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions available to individual marketplace
consumers. This policy is similar to one introduced by Governor Dayton to allow Minnesotans to buy
into Minnesota Care.
     I'm also fighting to bring down costs for families by lowering the price of prescription drugs. I recently
introduced a comprehensive bill on the subject, the Improving Access to Affordable Prescription Drugs
Act, which would tackle prescription drug costs by increasing transparency and accountability,
boosting access and affordability of key drugs, spurring innovation, and increasing choice and
competition. This bill would help ensure that drug companies put patients before profits and bring some
much-needed relief to families and seniors, including many who have had to make the impossible
choice between paying for a life-saving drug and putting food on the table.
     I remain committed to fighting for affordable and accessible health care for all Americans, which is
why I will oppose the Republican health bill. Thank you again for contacting me, and please don't
hesitate to do so in the future regarding this or any other matter of concern to you.

Sincerely,
Al Franken
United States Senator

From Senator Gardner

July 5, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate you taking the time to write. It
is an honor to serve you in the United States Senate and I hope you will continue to write with your
thoughts and ideas on moving our country forward.
     On June 22, 2017, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released a discussion draft,
known as the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), for the Senate’s revision of the House of
Representatives’ plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. While I will continue to review any proposed
legislation, it remains clear that the Affordable Care Act is imploding and it is vital we bring relief to
Coloradans. The Senate needs to work together and take the time to get it right for the people of
Colorado in order to produce a bill that will rescue Americans from the Affordable Care Act.
     It is vital that any health care plan offers states the flexibility they need, while also ensuring stability
for Colorado’s sickest and most vulnerable patients. This is why we must reform our severely broken
health care system. The instability of the individual health insurance market has resulted in multiple
insurers removing plans from the state health exchange for this plan year. As a direct impact, 67% of
counties in Colorado have two, or fewer, insurance carriers to choose from.
     This decrease in competition has had a dramatic effect on Coloradans’ ability to purchase insurance and access care. In Colorado, and across the nation, families have faced significant premium increases. According to the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), the average premium in Colorado increased by 20.4% on the individual market in 2017 and there are double digit increases expected for plan year 2018 if we
continue our current trajectory. Many Americans today choose not to visit the doctor or purchase
necessary medication because they simply cannot afford to do so. This is unacceptable, particularly for
individuals with preexisting conditions.
     As conversations around repealing the failed Affordable Care Act continue, I remain committed to
replacing it with common sense reforms that control costs, expand access to care, and protect the
doctor-patient relationship, while also ensuring a stable transition and flexibility for Medicaid
populations. In the future, I will continue to carefully review any proposed legislation as we continue to
look at ways to rescue Colorado from the worsening impacts of the Affordable Care Act on our health
care system.
     Moving forward, I will continue to support policies that will the lower cost of health care while
increasing the quality of care. Again, thank you for contacting me, and do not hesitate to do so again
when an issue is important to you.

Sincerely,
Cory Gardner
United States Senator

From Senator Grassley

July 11, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale:
     Thank you for taking the time to contact me. As your Senator it is important for me to hear from you.
I appreciate hearing your thoughts about legislation proposed to replace the Affordable Care Act, or
Obamacare. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed the House of Representatives on May 4,
2017 and a draft reconciliation bill is now under consideration in the Senate. Obamacare has been a
case of over promise and under delivery. Iowans were told their premiums would decrease by $2500,
but instead, they have gone up by as much as 43% this year and will possible go up another 43% next
year.
     Additionally, soaring copayments and deductibles have made Obamacare too expensive to use.
Iowans were told they would be able to keep their health plans if they liked them. Instead, many
Iowans lost the plans they liked when Obamacare rolled out. Now, 72,000 Iowans face hardship
keeping Obamacare this fall. Even if there are policies available to purchase, people will be hit hard by
higher premiums.
     Separately, those who are enrolled in Medicaid are in a program that can’t continue indefinitely at its
current rate of spending. The changes proposed are to make the program sustainable for the most
vulnerable people who currently need it and those who will need it in the future.
     The Senate legislation would bring immediate relief to the 72,000 Iowans on Obamacare. The
Medicaid changes would go into effect much more gradually giving Congress time to assess the results
of the changes and make adjustments. I have heard from thousands of Iowans about how Obamacare
has failed them. I’m listening to Iowans on the views on the current Senate draft and I’m reviewing the
cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. It is important to understand that not acting is not
an option or people will lose health care coverage.
     Additionally, I would like to respond to assertions that the health care bill being debated in Congress is
a wealth transfer to the high income earners. The fact of the matter is, this bill would finally make good
on one of several of President Obama’s promises that he failed to keep.
     “I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any
form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of
your taxes.”
     Even if we look past the individual and employer mandates implemented by Obamacare, which
instituted a fine if you didn’t sign up for insurance, and the Supreme Court ruled to be a “tax,” this new
bill would repeal a host of different tax hikes under Obamacare that fall on the backs of middle class
taxpayers and consumers. Other taxes that would be repealed under the new health care bill that
disproportionately affect the middle class include the threshold increase for deducting medical
expenses, a limitation on contributions to flex spending accounts, additional taxes on health savings
account early withdrawals, and the tax on indoor tanning services.
​     It would also repeal the medical
device tax which experts agree stifles innovation and would be paid for by consumers in the form of
higher prices. It also would repeal the so-called health insurance tax, which was sold as a tax on the
health insurance industry, but according to the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation ultimately
falls on consumers in the form of higher premiums.
     What’s really telling is that during consideration of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act,
amendments were offered to legislate President Obama’s middle class tax pledge into law. My
colleague Senator Crapo offered an amendment that would strike any tax that individual filers making
$200,000 or less and married filers making $250,000. Of course, then-President Obama opposed this
amendment, and his supporters in Congress voted down the amendment because they knew Obamacare
broke the President’s tax pledge.
     So, it is unfair to continue to say that this health care bill only benefits the rich. In reality, the majority
of the tax increases in Obamacare directly or indirectly fall on the back of the middle-class and over
time, due to inflation, the middle class will bear and ever increasing proportion of the taxes unless they
are repealed.
     Rest assured that I will continue to explore legislation that lowers costs, provides better quality, and
increases access to those who wish to purchase it. I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as this
process moves forward.
     Thank you again for contacting me. Representative government works best when there is constant
communication between you and your representatives.

Sincerely,
Chuck Grassley ​

From Senator Harris

​September 15, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on the state of our health care system and the well-
being of the American people. I always appreciate hearing from Californians, and I welcome the
opportunity to respond on an issue that so deeply affects every individual in our state.
     When children and families are healthy, our communities thrive and our economy flourishes. As a
senator representing the largest and one of the most diverse states in our nation, I believe every person
—regardless of income, gender, sexual orientation, or race—has the right to health care. To that end, I
am committed to working toward solutions that increase access, improve quality, and reduce costs of
health care for all Californians, especially for those most in need.
     In the Senate, I will continue to fight to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law
has helped millions of Californians obtain health insurance coverage, protected patients from
discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, and prohibited insurance companies from imposing
annual or lifetime limits on coverage. I have partnered with Senator Feinstein to introduce the
Affordable Health Insurance for the Middle Class Act, legislation that would make health insurance
more affordable for many middle class families – to show the type of improvements to the ACA that
everyone should be able to get behind.
     Beyond protecting the vital coverage provisions in the ACA, we must continue to find ways to improve
our health care system for all patients. In the Senate, I have supported measures to lower the often
prohibitive prices of prescription drugs and to increase funding for community health centers. I’ll also
continue to fight for robust federal funding of scientific research to cure our rarest and most complex
diseases. Together, we can ensure the dream of equal, accessible, affordable health care is realized for
all Americans.
     Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. If you have any additional questions or concerns,
please don’t hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3553.
​
Sincerely,
Kamala D. Harris
United States Senator

From Senator Hirono

July 21, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale,
     Thank you for contacting me regarding comprehensive health care reform in the United States. I
appreciate hearing from you about this important issue, and strongly oppose Senate Republican efforts
to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
     Growing up, I personally experienced the challenges of being unable to afford health care. Back then,
my family could not afford to pay for visits to a doctor, nurse, or other health care provider, and we did
not have health insurance coverage. Had my mother become too sick to work, we would not have been
able to pay rent or put food on the table.
     Knowing how hard my mother worked to overcome these challenges is one reason why I have
supported increasing access to quality, affordable health care through the ACA--the comprehensive
health care reform law often referred to as "Obamacare" that has expanded access to health care for
millions of Americans. The ACA reformed our health care system and expanded access to care for
millions of Americans of all income levels, many of whom are one diagnosis away from a serious
illness.
     Recently, Senate Republicans introduced the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which would
repeal many of the ACA's reforms and take away health insurance from millions of Americans. While
Republicans continue to try and change the bill in order to get enough support to pass it, each revision
has been analyzed by nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), with the same basic conclusion:
     The bill deeply cuts the Medicaid program and makes other changes that would impact millions of low-
income individuals and families, and seniors' access to health care coverage.
     This is a mean bill, and I strongly oppose it. I recently delivered the weekly Democratic response to
President Trump, where I had an opportunity to discuss my personal battle with kidney cancer and the
need to ensure that individuals throughout our communities have access to health care. You can view
that response online, here: http://bit.ly/2tODP40. More recently, I also spoke on the Senate floor in
opposition to the bill and its devastating impact on Hawaii's communities. You can view those remarks,
here: http://bit.ly/2ttub9v.
     For me, this fight is personal. Please be assured that I will continue to oppose harmful legislation like
BCRA, and that I will continue looking to find ways to build on the progress we have made to expand
access to affordable, quality health insurance in the United States.
     Again, thank you for contacting me. If you would like to stay in touch with me on this or other issues
of importance to you, please visit my website at: http://www.hirono.senate.gov. Please do not hesitate
to contact me again in the future if I may be of assistance to you in any way.
​
Aloha,
Mazie K. Hirono
United States Senator

From Senator Kennedy

​August 10, 2017

Dear Ms. Hale:
     Thanks for sharing your concerns with me about the Senate's efforts to repeal the Affordable
Care Act (ACA). I appreciate hearing from you.
     As you know, the Senate recently voted on several proposals that would repeal the ACA. While
these efforts ultimately failed, I remain focused on repealing Obamacare so that we can move toward a
health care system that looks like it was designed on purpose. Obamacare has failed Americans, plain
and simple. Nowhere is this more obvious than in Louisiana, where the three insurers on the exchange
are requesting double digit premium increases in 2018, ranging from 12 to 36 percent.
     Things have been so dire that 135,510 Louisianans opted to pay the penalty in 2014 rather than purchase a plan on the exchange because the penalty tax was a more affordable option. Louisianans should not be forced to buy insurance they don’t like at prices they can’t afford. Here’s what we need instead of Obamacare: more choice, more competition, less fraud, and a health care delivery system that puts patients and their doctors in charge, not Washington politicians and bureaucrats.
     As the Senate continues to consider ways to improve our health care system, I will be sure to
keep your concerns in mind. Thanks again for writing.

Sincerely,
John Kennedy
United States Senator

From Senator King

Jun 27, 2017

Dear Doris,
     Thank you for contacting me. Please accept this response as acknowledgement that I have received
your communication. I am honored to represent you and the State of Maine here in the United States
Senate.
     I place great emphasis on making sure each message I receive is reviewed, responded to, and used to
inform my work in Washington. I appreciate the chance to hear what's on your mind. Thank you for
reaching out.
Best Regards,
Senator Angus S. King, Jr.
Toll-free from within Maine: 1-800-432-1599
AUGUSTA
4 Gabriel Drive
Suite F1
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-8292
BANGOR
202 Harlow St., Suite 20350
Bangor, ME 04401
Phone: (207) 945-8000
PRESQUE ISLE
169 Academy Street
Suite A
Presque Isle, ME 04769
(207) 764-5124
SCARBOROUGH
383 U.S. Route 1
Suite 1C
Scarborough, ME 04074
(207)883-1588
WASHINGTON, D.C.
133 Hart Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5344

Amy Klobuchar

July 31, 2017
Dear Ms. Hale:
Thank you for contacting me about healthcare reform. Knowing your views is important to me.
On July 27, the latest effort to repeal the healthcare law failed by a vote of 49 to 51. The proposal
would have led to increased premiums and caused millions of people to lose their healthcare coverage.
That’s why I, along with a bipartisan group of senators, did not support it.
I have always said that the Affordable Care Act is a beginning, not an end, and that improvements need
to be made at the state and federal levels, including legislative changes.
Now is the time to work on a bipartisan basis to make healthcare more affordable by addressing factors
that can bring down costs overall, including strengthening the exchanges, enacting delivery system
reforms, supporting small businesses, and lowering prescription drug costs.
In order to bring down skyrocketing prescription drug costs, I have introduced multiple pieces of
legislation that would expand access to cost-saving generic drugs, deter pharmaceutical companies
from blocking cheaper generic alternatives, allow personal importation of safe and more affordable
drugs from Canada and empower Medicare to negotiate the best possible price for prescription drugs
on behalf of the nearly 41 million seniors who participate in Medicare Part D.
During my time in the Senate, I have also worked to make improvements to the healthcare law,
including a repeal of the burdensome 1099 tax-reporting provision that would have been very
problematic for small businesses. I also led successful efforts to include a two-year suspension of the
2.3 percent medical device tax in the Appropriations Act of 2016. This tax inordinately impacts our
state and I will continue working with my colleagues in the Senate to end it permanently.
As we consider changes to our healthcare system, I will continue to work to ensure that individuals and
families across our state and country have access to the high-quality healthcare that they deserve.
Among other things, we must maintain current protections for consumers, including allowing young
people to stay on their parents’ plans until they are 26 years old and prohibiting insurance companies
from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
We also must ensure that provisions stay in place that promote high-value care, similar to what we have
in Minnesota. Minnesota has consistently provided higher quality care, yet our healthcare providers
have historically been reimbursed for their services at a disproportionately low rate. To address this
problem I worked to make sure the Affordable Care Act included the value index, which rewards high-
quality, cost-effective results like we see in Minnesota. Going forward I will continue to advocate for
additional delivery system reforms.
Finally, if you have a personal issue related to enrollment, plan options, website access, recent
subsidies passed by the state legislature to help certain enrollees, or individual health insurance rates on
the state health insurance exchange ("MNsure") you should contact a MNsure representative at
http://www.mnsure.org/ or call the toll-free line at 1-855-366-7873. If you have any problems getting
through to MNsure or have questions that you do not get answered through that process, please call my
office at 612-727-5220 and we will work to assist you. Also, please remember that if you get your
insurance through an employer, Medicare, or the Department of Veterans Affairs, your individual
concerns with your own policy may be unrelated to MNsure.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I continue to be humbled to be your Senator, and
one of the most important parts of my job is listening to the people of Minnesota. I am here in our
nation’s capital to do the public’s business. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern
to you.
Sincerely,
Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator

​Joe Markley

​June 28, 2017
Dear Doris:
Thank you for contacting me about the future of our nation's healthcare system. I appreciate your
perspective and input as Congress continues to debate this important issue.
In Massachusetts, we believe that health care is a right for all and not a privilege for a few. That's why
we passed our health reform law, on which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was modeled, in 2006. As a
result, more than 97 percent of all Bay Staters have health insurance, the lowest uninsured rate in the
nation. The Commonwealth is proof that you don't have to choose between a strong economy and
universal health care.
Since it became law in 2010, the ACA has increased access to health insurance for more than 20
million Americans. Our national uninsured rate is the lowest in the country's history, and more and
more Americans have the peace of mind that comes with accessing comprehensive health insurance in
the event of an unforeseeable accident or devastating diagnosis. Still, the ACA is not perfect, and I
stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen and improve the law.
Unfortunately, more than seven years after President Obama signed the ACA, we are still fighting
against attacks on the fundamental right to health care. Congressional Republicans have voted dozens
of times to repeal the ACA. This year, President Trump and House Republicans passed a disastrous
plan to repeal the ACA and create a massive tax break for the wealthiest Americans. This legislation
would gut the Medicaid program serving the sick, the poor, the elderly and disabled, while also
allowing insurance companies to charge more for pre-existing conditions or if you are a women. While
the Senate Republicans are currently working on a different proposal, it is unlikely that it will provide
better coverage at lower costs than the ACA.
In addition to the devastating impacts Trumpcare would have on out of pocket costs for everyone with
health insurance. Repealing the ACA would also upend coverage for 2.8 million Americans suffering
from a substance use disorder. Nearly 2,000 people in Massachusetts died from an opioid overdose last
year alone, and removing access to insurance coverage for treatment and recovery would only
exacerbate this epidemic. That is why twenty Senators joined me in urging Senate Majority leader
Mitch McConnell to reject repealing the ACA.
My vote for the ACA is one of the proudest votes of my career in Congress. Repealing the ACA is a
bad prescription for Massachusetts and the nation, and I will continue fighting this heartless effort to
strip away the right to health care.
Thank you again for reaching out to me about this issue. If I can be of further assistance, please do not
hesitate to contact me. To sign up for my newsletter, visit http://www.markey.senate.gov/newsletter.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Markey
Unites States Senator

Mitch McConnell

Dear Ms. Hale;
Thank you for contacting me regarding health care reform. I appreciate your taking the time to share
your thoughts on this most important issue.
In 2010, President Obama partnered with his allies in Congress to impose the so-called Affordable Care
Act (ACA) on our country. However, the ACA has proven to be anything but affordable. From 2013
to 2017, premiums for individual health insurance plans have increased by an average of 75 percent in
Kentucky. On top of that, some Kentuckians will see rate increases as high as 56 percent in 2018. We
were also told the ACA would increase choice. Yet, next year consumers in Kentucky will only have
one insurer to choose from on the individual market— which is no choice at all.
Since its passage, I have visited numerous health care facilities across Kentucky to engage with health
care professionals, doctors, nurses, patients, families and small business owners about the disastrous
impacts of the ACA. Further, I have spoken on the Senate floor hundreds of times and have written
numerous op-eds, which have appeared in newspapers across the state, to point out the significant flaws
with this law and to share the adverse impacts I continue to hear about from my constituents.
Through these conversations over the years, it is clear that Kentuckians are hurting, and they need relief
from the ACA, which has been full of broken promises. As their senior senator, I owe it to them to find
a better way forward. That is why I have kept my promise to vote to repeal this failed law at every
opportunity, and I will continue to work to take health care in a different direction.
As you may know, a proposal was recently introduced by Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller, and
Johnson that seeks to repeal pillars of the ACA and to allow states, not Washington, to implement the
health reforms that best suit their constituents. The proposal put forward by my colleagues would
repeal the “one-size-fits-all” approach inserted under the ACA by giving the governors and state
legislators the resources and regulatory flexibility they need to create health reforms that work for their
states and would actually lower costs and improve care.
Moving forward, please know that I will continue working in the United States Senate to repeal the
ACA and replace it with patient-centered reforms that will increase choice, decrease the cost of health
insurance, and bring relief to families struggling under the current law. I believe in reforms that will
give Kentuckians— not Washington— the opportunity to choose health insurance plans that best fit
their families’ needs. As we continue our work to fix the broken health care system, please rest assured
that I will continue to engage with my constituents on this most important issue, and I will keep your
thoughts foremost in mind.
Thank you again for your engagement on this matter. If you would like to receive periodic updates
from my office, please sign up for my eNewsletter at http://mcconnell.senate.gov/, become a fan of my
page on Facebook by visiting http://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconnell, or follow my office on
Twitter @McConnellPress.
Sincerely,
MITCH McCONNELL
UNITED STATES SENATOR

​Jerry Moran 

​Dear Ms. Hale:
The American people deserve a health care system that is fair and affordable. Thank you for contacting
me about the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA).
The Senate healthcare bill missed the mark for Kansans and therefore did not have my support. I am
pleased with the decision to delay the vote – now is the time to take a step back and put the full
legislative process to work. I remain committed to working with my colleagues and continuing
conversations with patients and providers in Kansas to find a path forward that makes certain Kansans
will have access to more affordable and better quality healthcare.
I am grateful for the opportunity Kansans have given me to serve them in the United States Senate.
Please let me know if I can be of service to you or your family in the future.
Very truly yours,
Jerry Moran

David Perdue

Dear Ms. Hale:
Thank you for contacting me regarding healthcare reform. I always appreciate the opportunity to
hear from my fellow Georgians.
Obamacare is collapsing under its own weight. The overreaching federal program has caused
healthcare costs to skyrocket for millions of Americans, while too many hardworking men and women
have been forced to pay a penalty or sign up for coverage they can’t afford or doesn’t fit their needs. In
addition, Obamacare has created a larger federal bureaucracy, with more federal mandates, that has
made it harder for small businesses to grow and create jobs.
It is time we clear the path for market-based solutions that will lower taxes and promote
comprehensive and affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans. The Better Care Reconciliation
Act (BCRA) is currently under review in the Senate. It includes protections for people with pre-existing
conditions while also laying the foundation for a more stable insurance market in the future.
As changes to the current version of the BCRA are proposed, I will continue to keep your
comments regarding healthcare reform in mind. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your
opinion about this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further
assistance.
Kindest regards,
David Perdue
United States Senator

Luther Strange

Dear Ms. Hale,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). I appreciate
hearing from you concerning this important legislation.
I agree that the American people deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare. I believe the best way
to achieve that goal is through commonsense healthcare policies that put patients and doctors in control
of healthcare, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC. For years, Alabamians have agonized under the
Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) web of taxes, mandates, and one-size-fits-all insurance plans that offer
coverage, but not access to quality healthcare.
The American people spoke loudly with the election of President Trump, who campaigned on returning
free market principles to the health insurance markets, while protecting our most vulnerable citizens. I
intend to stand with President Trump in making good on that promise. Since the implementation of the
ACA in Alabama, average premiums have increased threefold, skyrocketing deductibles often render
insurance cards worthless, and many folks cannot choose their doctors due to narrowing provider
networks.
The Better Care Reconciliation Act is a discussion draft, and as such is still a work in progress. It is
thefirst step in delivering relief from the onerous effects of the ACA. I appreciate your thoughts and
ideason how to improve the bill, and I will work to ensure that the bill rewards Alabama for our historic
innovation and efficiency. I look forward to sending an improved version of the bill to President
Trump’s desk very soon.
It is important that I understand the interests, concerns, and priorities of all my constituents, and I
appreciate learning more about your thoughts on our healthcare system and the Better Care
Reconciliation Act.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do so in the future on other matters important to you.
Sincerely,
Luther Strange
United States Senator

Elizabeth Warren

September 14, 2017
Dear Doris,
Thank you for contacting me about health care reform.
Across Massachusetts, families, health care providers, hospitals, and insurers embrace a shared value:
that everyone should have affordable, high-quality health insurance coverage. Massachusetts health
care reform efforts began years before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, but the national health
care reform law gave the Commonwealth new tools to expand coverage, improve care, and lower costs.
Today, more than 97% of Massachusetts residents have health insurance - the highest rate of coverage
of any state in the country.
President Trump and Republicans in Congress have threatened this progress by championing efforts to
repeal the Affordable Care Act and gut the Medicaid program, ripping health insurance away from tens
of millions of Americans and raising costs for millions more. Their proposals would not only hurt
families, but would also threaten hospitals and other health care providers, insurers, and businesses.
I will continue to fight to protect health coverage for millions of families in Massachusetts and across
this country. These families deserve high-quality, affordable health care. The Republican efforts to rip
health insurance away from people who need it have had mixed success in Congress, largely because
people are standing up and letting their voices be heard. But we cannot let down our guard. Even if
Republican bills don't pass through Congress, the President has made it perfectly clear that he will use
his executive authority to sabotage Americans' health care.
I also believe we must take other steps to lower health care costs for families. Too often, despite the
gains we have made through the ACA, families are just one medical emergency away from serious
financial trouble. People in this country work hard, day in and day out, to make ends meet, and health
care costs shouldn't keep them up at night. I am committed to working with my colleagues to lower out
of pocket costs, expand access to networks of doctors and hospitals, and make coverage more
affordable.
I appreciate your reaching out to me, and please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about issues
of importance to you.
Sincerely,

Rodger Wicker

Dear Doris,
Thank you for contacting me regarding proposed changes to Medicaid in President Trump's plan to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare (P.L. 111-148). I am glad to have the benefit of your views on this important issue.
As you know, Medicaid is a health-care program jointly funded by the federal government and the state of Mississippi. The federal government sets out broad policies on eligibility requirements and how Medicaid funding should be used. Generally, eligibility for Medicaid is limited to low-income children, pregnant women, parents of dependent children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
I am committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate to provide states with the flexibility to accomplish federally prescribed goals while ensuring quality care for traditional Medicaid enrollees. Obamacare fundamentally changed the federal government’s role in health care, including Medicaid. The law redefined this important program and further restricted states’ role in setting benefits.
It is important that Congress begin a serious dialogue on the future of this program and how to strengthen it for generations to come.
Medicaid has serious financial problems that require immediate attention. President Trump’s health-care plan would begin to fix the damage caused by Obamacare and set Medicaid on a more sustainable path forward. Congress should work now to preserve health security for our children and grandchildren.
Fortunately, Congress has already taken the necessary steps to begin repealing this unpopular health-care law. The House passed the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628) on May 4, 2017. Currently, this bill is being considered by the Senate. I believe Obamacare should be replaced with a market-driven approach that actually lowers the cost of health care for families and workers. I support policies that lower premiums and give patients the freedom to choose their providers. Workable health-care solutions should empower patients – not unelected bureaucrats. I am dedicated to protecting the integrity of Medicaid and the Mississippians who benefit from this program.
I have attached my recent statement on the House passage of H.R. 1628. Be assured I will keep your views in mind as the debate on health-care reform and the future of Medicaid moves forward. Please feel free to contact me if I can ever be of assistance.
With best wishes, I am Sincerely, Roger
Roger F. Wicker
U.S. Senator
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510
202-224-6253

Todd Young

Dear Ms. Hale,
Thank you for contacting me with your views on efforts to reform health care. I appreciate hearing
from you on this important issue.
As you know, the Senate is considering a plan to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or “Obamacare”).The plan has changed several times and I am still
studying the latest version of the bill and its impact. To make an informed decision, I have spent the last
several weeks listening to Hoosiers like yourself about the pros and cons of the bill. Additionally, I
have reached out to all 48 Democrats in the Senate to seek their ideas for reforming health care. I
believe a lasting solution requires all parties to come to the table.
Nearly every American agrees that doing nothing is not an option. In 2018, 63 of Indiana’s 92 counties
will have no choice under the current law. Premiums continue to rise, and out-of-pocket costs make
insurance worthless for many Hoosiers. In 2014 (the latest data available), 176,850 Hoosiers chose to
pay the Obamacare tax penalty rather than buy insurance they couldn’t afford, with roughly half of
those penalty payers with incomes below $25,000 and nearly 86 percent of penalty payers with
incomes under $50,000.
Reforming health care is an important issue for all Hoosiers, and I thank you for contacting me. It is an
honor to represent you in the United States Senate.
Sincerely,
Todd Young
United States Senator