Press Releases

Rep. Wexton: Lawsuit to Overturn ACA Would Devastate Virginia

Today, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in Texas v. U.S., Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) responded to the Trump administration’s latest efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act by trying to overturn the law in its entirety. If the administration is successful, millions of Americans will lose coverage, protections for the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions will end, Medicaid will be gutted, and costs will go up across the board.

“The Trump administration’s relentless campaign to strip healthcare from millions of Americans is unconscionable and will send us back to a time when health insurance companies charged as much as they could and covered as little as they wanted,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “If the lawsuit is successful, millions of Americans and over 600,000 Virginians will lose their health insurance. The Trump administration is weaponizing the Department of Justice to rip healthcare away from millions—it’s a blatant misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

“Virginians want quality, affordable healthcare. That’s why my colleagues and I continue to put forth common sense solutions to lower the cost of care and expand coverage for all Americans. Access to care is life or death for too many Virginians—this is a fight we can’t afford to lose.”

If the Trump administration gets its way, the health and financial well-being of Virginia families will be devastated by its reckless actions:

  • 3,441,400 – Number of Virginians who have pre-existing conditions and will lose their protections.  
  • 642,000 – Number of Virginians who could lose all health care coverage.
  • 59,000 – Young Virginians under age 26 who could lose the ability to remain on their parents’ insurance. 
  • $3,431 – Amount of a new “Age Tax” that insurance companies could charge Virginians over the age of 50.
  • 2,974,000 – Number of  Virginians who could face reinstated lifetime and annual limits on coverage.
  • 289,081 – Number of Virginians who will pay more for coverage without access to health insurance affordability tax credits.
  • 109,517 – Number of Virginia seniors who could have to pay more for their prescription drugs.
  • Nearly 200,000 – Number of Virginians enrolled through Medicaid expansion that could lose coverage.

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