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Washington
–
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
introduced
the
bipartisan
Increasing
Access
to
Care
Act,
which
will
allow
individuals
over
the
age
of
30
to
purchase
catastrophic
health
care
plans.
The
Affordable
Care
Act,
or
Obamacare,
currently
does
not
allow
for
Americans
over
the
age
of
30
to
purchase
these
plans;
this
sort
of
catastrophic
coverage
can
help
prevent
medical
bankruptcy
and
ensure
all
families
have
access
to
affordable
care
in
case
of
a
medical
emergency.
Senators
Tom
Carper
(D-DE),
Bill
Cassidy
(R-LA)
and
Mark
Warner
(D-VA)
joined
Scott
to
introduce
the
legislation.
“By
increasing
access
to
affordable
health
care
plans
for
Americans
of
all
ages,
we
are
offering
American
families
more
choices
when
it
comes
to
their
health
care,”
Senator
Scott
said.
“These
plans,
currently
only
available
for
people
under
the
age
of
30,
can
help
prevent
medical
bankruptcy
in
the
event
of
emergency,
and
also
ensure
more
families
have
the
option
to
choose
the
health
care
plan
that
best
fits
their
needs
and
budget.”
“Senators
Lamar
Alexander
and
Patty
Murray
have
been
listening
to
our
constituents,
and
they’ve
set
the
stage
for
the
rest
of
us
to
do
what’s
right—work
together.
This
bill
is
a
great
example
of
that,”
said
Senator
Carper.
“No
American
should
have
to
file
bankruptcy
or
fall
into
poverty
because
of
a
serious
ailment
or
unexpected
medical
emergency.
The
Affordable
Care
Act
made
great
progress
in
reducing
rates
of
medical
bankruptcies,
and
this
bill
will
build
on
that
progress
by
giving
more
options
to
Americans
to
buy
into
a
health
insurance
plan
that
kicks
in
when
they
need
it
the
most.”
“Many
are
uninsured
now
because
they
cannot
afford
their
premiums
on
the
Obamacare
exchanges.
Let’s
give
families
another
option,”
said
Dr.
Cassidy.
“Giving
families
the
power
to
choose
is
always
good.”
“I
have
long
advocated
giving
consumers
more
control
over
their
health
care
coverage
and
more
choices
in
the
ACA
Marketplace,”
said
Senator
Warner.
“The
bipartisan
Increasing
Access
to
Care
Act
allows
the
purchase
of
a
less
expensive,
higher
deductible
plan
with
many
of
the
same
consumer
protections
as
other
plans
available
through
the
ACA.
Copper
plan
is
not
for
everyone
but
it
could
provide
value
for
some
consumers.”
Specifically,
the
legislation
amends
Section
1302(e)
of
the
Patient
Protection
and
Affordable
Care
Act,
which
restricts
enrollment
in
catastrophic
plans
to
those
under
30
or
those
with
a
hardship
exemption,
by
eliminating
the
provision’s
age-based
restrictions.
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