Kurt's Work

A little over a week after unveiling their five-part plan to stabilize the individual market and improve the Affordable Care Act, a group of ten House Democrats, led by Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05), submitted their proposal of solutions to the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.

Led by Reps. Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Ami Bera, MD (CA-07) and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), the group unveiled Solutions Over Politics to stabilize the individual market while protecting plans for people with pre-existing conditions, keeping costs down for lower income folks, promoting enrollment and ensuring everyone pays their fair share. The plan also calls for improvements to the ACA including ways to reduce churn in the market and draw bidding areas to ensure that rural areas aren’t left at a disadvantage.

“Although the ACA made tremendous progress in covering more than 20 million people, we acknowledge that many families struggle with costs, particularly the 6-8 percent of Americans who purchase insurance on the individual market,” the Members wrote. “While our Republican colleagues decided to pursue a reckless repeal agenda, we decided we needed to take positive steps to address these concerns without tearing down the things that make the ACA successful.”

The Members continued: “Over the last several months, we have met with constituents, health policy experts, and health care providers to discuss how we can improve and strengthen the individual market. As a result of these conversations, earlier this summer we proposed a collection of reforms and recommitments to policies that will stabilize the individual market and make health care more affordable for American families.”

Read the full letter here and below, and find the enclosed proposals here.

Dear Colleague,

We strongly support the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and are encouraged by the Steering and Policy Committee’s decision to look at proactive steps to improve the law and the American health care system.

Although the ACA made tremendous progress in covering more than 20 million people, we acknowledge that many families struggle with costs, particularly the six to eight percent of Americans who purchase insurance on the individual market. While our Republican colleagues decided to pursue a reckless repeal agenda, we decided we needed to take positive steps to address these concerns without tearing down the things that make the ACA successful.

Over the last several months, we have met with constituents, health policy experts, and health care providers to discuss how we can improve and strengthen the individual market. As a result of these conversations, earlier this summer we proposed a collection of reforms and recommitments to policies that will stabilize the individual market and make health care more affordable for American families. We have enclosed our proposal, and hope you will consider it when examining policies to improve the ACA.

Again, thank you for your dedication to helping America’s families, and your attention to our priorities.