ORANGE BEACH — An estimated 22 million people will see much higher insurance premiums if a solution isn't reached between Democrats and Republicans concerning what U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has called the "Unaffordable Care Act."
While much of the focus has been on the expiration of subsidies at the end of the year, Britt told 1819 News the problem dates back to 2019, an issue she believes the media has failed to report.
"I am not for extending the premiums as is. That is, I think there is a lot of waste, fraud, and abuse, and we've got to make sure that we are smart about how we handle healthcare. We have to look at it through that lens.
"You have Obamacare created in 2010. Then, you have four years later, in 2014, they already knew that what they called the 'Affordable Care Act' was unaffordable," she explained. "They had to institute premiums there at 400% above the poverty level, and when you look at that, so four years in, they were already having to subsidize this program. Then, in 2021, they decided to unlock these premiums for everyone, these subsidies. Literally all of these things were done with Democrat votes."
"Then in 2022, they came and extended them through the end of this year," Britt continued. "Again, all the Democrat votes. And so, they not only set up the initial program, they set up the subsidies, they extended the subsidies – Democrats only – and they put the end date on them."
SEE ALSO: 'A nonstarter': Britt clarifies report of extending COVID-era Obamacare subsidies
While some Democrats in Washington have repeatedly called the issue a Republican healthcare crisis, Britt said there is nothing further from the truth.
"The truth is that we've gotten really good at cleaning up Democrats' messes," Britt said.
"… This is a Democrat-created crisis. So, that needs to be clear."
Britt said Obamacare failed the American people, and now Republicans are looking at the issue comprehensively to see if there is a way to subsidize the people and not the insurance companies.
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