The SDDP Responds to New CBO Score of CSR Payments

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement from Executive Director Sam Parkinson in response to today’s score from the Congressional Budget Office predicting the effects if President Donald Trump follows through on his threat to refuse to pay cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments:

“More than 16,000 South Dakotans, or 59 percent of those on healthcare exchanges, depend on cost sharing reduction payments to make their healthcare affordable. This CBO report shows in stark terms how devastating Trump sabotaging health insurance markets would be for those South Dakotans and their families, and millions of families around the country. By ending cost reduction subsidies, millions would face skyrocketing premium increases of 20 percent next year and 25 percent by 2020. In addition, our national deficit would increase by $194 billion. The threat of sabotage has already made healthcare less affordable for millions by creating uncertainty and causing insurers to raise premiums or leave markets.

“Trump and Republicans in Congress – including Kristi Noem, Mike Rounds, and John Thune – need to stop playing games with people’s lives. Instead of threatening to sabotage insurance markets, or to recklessly repeal the Affordable Care Act and take healthcare away from millions of families, Republicans should work with Democrats to build upon the progress made under the Affordable Care Act to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for all.”