Thread by @AARPFL

BREAKING: AARP has filed an amicus brief to save the Affordable Care Act: bit.ly/2ybzRIZ

AARP strongly opposes any attempts to take away the ACA’s protection for people with pre-existing health conditions or bring back an unfair #AgeTax on older adults.

What happened? A new threat has emerged in the form of a court challenge, Texas v. United States, which claims the ACA is unconstitutional and should be struck down. And last week, the Department of Justice declined to defend the law.

Let's be clear. The old days were NOT the good days when it came to health care. Before the ACA, the number of uninsured 50-64 year olds shot up from 5.2 MM in 2000 to an alarming 9.3 MM in 2012. Thanks to the ACA, that number dropped to 5.4 million in 2016.

More than 1 in 4 Americans - an estimated 52 MM people - has a pre-existing health condition. If this challenge succeeds, an insurer could deny them coverage or charge astronomical premiums.

Under the ACA: insurance companies can't price gouge based on age or gender. If this challenge succeeds, insurers could charge 50-64 year olds up to 10 times more than everyone else.

What does that mean? A 60 year-old could see her premium increase to a staggering $18,000/year, if she is charged 5x more than her younger counterpart. And the ACA's financial assistance would no longer exist.

Doing away with these critical protections will also re-open the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole," forcing seniors to pay even more out-of-pocket for their prescription drugs.

Bottom line: a ruling in favor of Plaintiffs is NOT in the public interest. It would have a catastrophic effect on the health and financial stability of all Americans, especially older adults, those with pre-existing conditions, and millions with employer-based insurance.

Let's not mince words. The lack of affordable health care leads to worse health outcomes and even death. It negatively impacts people's financial security, and not only personal health, but the overall economic health of the nation.

Our nation cannot afford to return to pre-ACA days and lose hard-fought gains. AARP strongly believes the ACA is constitutional and is ready to defend our position in court. - END THREAD -