Rep. Will Hurd lays out details of GOP health care replacement plan

Hurd explains plan keeps several pieces of current Affordable Care Act

SAN ANTONIO – Now that Washington Republicans have started bringing down the hammer on the Affordable Care Act, Democratic lawmakers are wondering what's next.

The budget congress passed last week includes the first step needed to repeal the Affordable Care Act. With 20 million Americans' health insurance on the line, however, there's deepening pressure for a backup plan.

Republican Rep. Will Hurd, Texas-District 23, confidently assured KSAT in an interview Monday that plan is coming together.

"Yes. There's no interest in just repealing and having people without insurance. That's been very clear. Unfortunately, this has been one of those issues that is incredibly partisan and there's a lot of scare tactics that are going on," Hurd said.

Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, Texas-District 28, doesn't see scare tactics. He said he sees a vast partisan communication issue.

"There's been so many statements out there that I don't know what the final word is going to be. So we won't know until something is actually filed and presented," Cuellar said.

He was surprised to hear that Monday Hurd laid out pieces of the act Republicans would like to keep.

"Like a pre-existing condition should not preclude you from getting insurance. Everybody agrees on that. Our plan is based on that. You can stay on your parents' insurance until you're 26. Everybody agrees on this," Hurd said.

"Well, hello? What is that? That's the Affordable Heath Care Act. So they're moving a direction I've been calling for: Let's keep the good things. Let's find ways to replace things we don't like or are not working," Cuellar said.

Something Cuellar and Hurd also seem to agree on is the need to battle rising premiums.

"Obamacare is a flawed law. In Texas, premiums are going up an average of 34 percent this year. Everybody's premiums have been going up. People's deductibles are going up. And if you have an $8,000 or $10,000 deductible, you basically do not have insurance," Hurd said.

"This is what we've got to figure out. How do we get more competition in the insurance market? Because if you don't have competition, the few [companies] there, are going to increase the premiums. You've got to have competition. Competition will drive the price down," Cuellar said.

Cuellar hopes Republicans form a plan quickly, and include Democrats in discussions.

"If they don't do that, they're going to get a Republican plan, not a bipartisan plan. They complained about Democrats six years ago and they're doing exactly the same thing. So I think the best way to do this is to get Democrats on board and make this a bipartisan approach," Cuellar said.

A collaboration is something Hurd wants too. "We want to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to get programs everyone can agree with," he said.

Hurd mentioned the GOP's web site which outlines changes Republicans plan to make in the near future. It mentions many changes to things like research and Medicare. It also details protections for pre-existing conditions and young people but doesn't mention anything about women's health, which is one of the many concerns for Democrats.


About the Author:

Courtney Friedman anchors KSAT’s weekend evening shows and reports during the week. Her ongoing Loving in Fear series confronts Bexar County’s domestic violence epidemic. She joined KSAT in 2014 and is proud to call the SA and South Texas community home. She came to San Antonio from KYTX CBS 19 in Tyler, where she also anchored & reported.