Rep. Hakeem Jeffries: ‘Time Is Now’ to Fix Health Care Crisis as Costs Skyrocket for Millions

EXCERPT:

MELVIN: “But again, the majority of folks certainly don’t want their health care premiums to go up. And I think a lot of folks are watching this and they’re wondering, why fight this battle now? Why not reopen the government and still have these conversations and negotiate over the next next few months?”
JEFFRIES: “Yeah, it’s a really good question. But the time is now to address this health care crisis.”
MELVIN: “But why now?”
JEFFRIES: “Well, absolutely. The enrollment period opens on November 1st. Notices have already started to go out, indicating that premiums, co-pays, and deductibles for tens of millions of Americans all across the country are going to dramatically increase. You know, for example, a couple that makes $88,000 a year currently, which receives the Affordable Care Act tax credits, pays insurance of about $8,000 per year. That will triple to $24,000 a year right now. That’s what people are facing right now, which is why we need to address it.”