Congresswoman Brown Stands with Constituents - Calls for Republicans to Reverse Health Care Cuts

Cleveland, OH – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) hosted a press conference Wednesday at the Village of Healing calling on Congress and the White House to reverse upcoming cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. Three local Northeast Ohio residents joined Brown and shared their stories about how the cuts to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid would impact their health care, finances, and their families. 

Congresswoman Brown was joined by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services Director David Merriman, Dr. Arthur Lavin of Doctors Organized for Healthcare Solutions, and Da’na Langford CEO & Founder, Village of Healing.

Without legislative action, over 50,000 people in Cuyahoga County will see significant price increases to their ACA health care coverage when open enrollment begins on November 1. This summer, President Trump also signed the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, jeopardizing the health care coverage of over 40,000 people represented by Brown in OH-11.   

Cuyahoga County administers Medicaid locally, where approximately 35,000 Ohioans will be subject to new Medicaid work requirements beginning next year.  

“We are facing a health care crisis in Northeast Ohio because of Republican cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. It’s wrong, it’s cruel, and it’s unnecessary. Today, I stood with constituents who will be impacted by these terrible cuts to send a clear message to the Trump White House and the Republican-controlled Congress: cancel the cuts, lower the costs, and re-open the government,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. “If we don’t reverse these cuts, over 50,000 people in Cuyahoga County will be slammed with massive price increases on their health insurance, combined with the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. It’s a double-whammy that we cannot afford.”

“Health care is not just a privilege, it is a right, and every person, no matter their zip code, income, or background, deserves access to quality, affordable health care,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne. “Medicaid is critical for our families, our seniors, and our workforce in Cuyahoga County, and we are asking Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, end the Medicaid cuts, and protect healthcare access for tens of thousands of Cuyahoga County residents and millions of Americans.”

Video of the Press Conference Available Here

Photos Here

NE Ohio Health Care Crisis: What’s at Stake

• ACA Plan Price Increases:
  • If ACA Enhanced Premium tax credits expire, ACA marketplace premiums will increase on average by $705 per year for individuals, with families seeing cost increases in the thousands.
  • According to this calculator, a family of four in Cleveland with a household income of $56,000 a year (the median income in OH-11) would see their premiums increase by $2,400 next year, a 100% increase.  
    
     
• How Many People Will Pay More Due to ACA Cuts:
  • Approximately 513,517 Ohioans benefit from ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits
  • That includes 56,800 people in Cuyahoga County and 38,000 people represented by Brown in OH-11
    
     
• Medicaid Cuts Starting in 2026:
  • The Republican Budget Bill signed in July included over $1 trillion in health care cuts, including the largest cuts to Medicaid in history.
  • According to analysis from the Joint Economic Committee, over 25,000 people in OH-11 will lose Medicaid coverage and over 17,000 will lose ACA coverage due to Republican health care cuts.
  • In Cuyahoga County, approximately 35,000 people could lose Medicaid coverage. 

###