Health

Government Funding Proposal Fails to Address Republican Health Care Crisis

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the Republican shutdown.  “The government funding proposal fails to address the fundamental needs of the American people. That’s why I will vote against it. “The Republican health care crisis is sending insurance premiums skyrocketing – sometimes double or even triple what they currently are. American families…

Democrats Introduce Legislation to Block Harmful Red Tape in Medicare

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Ami Bera, MD (CA-06), Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced legislation to protect seniors from new red tape the Trump administration is implementing in traditional Medicare. The Seniors Deserve SMARTER (Streamlined Medical Approvals for Timely, Efficient Recovery) Care Act would…

Health Care, Grocery Costs Skyrocketing Because of Republican Shutdown

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the latest impacts of the Republican shutdown.  “As I travel the state and the country, the number one issue I hear from folks about is affordability. Yet, beginning tomorrow, families in Washington will be hit with a double whammy. Open enrollment begins for health care coverage through Washington…

DelBene, House Democrats Urge USDA to Immediately Fund SNAP

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01), House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Ranking Member Jahana Hayes (CT-05), House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), and 212 House Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, urging the agency to use contingency reserve dollars to fund the…

DelBene Statement on Republican Shutdown

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the government shutdown. “Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House, and have led the country into a government shutdown. Families have been struggling to make ends meet as a direct result of Trump and Republican policies that have raised prices on everyday goods and slashed health care for…

What WA Health Care Leaders Are Saying About Trump’s New Medicare Red Tape

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Health

Starting in January 2026, Washington seniors and other beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare will face new prior authorization for their health care. As an NBC News article puts it, the new program “amounts to a federal expansion of an unpopular process called prior authorization, which requires patients or someone on their medical team to seek insurance approval before…

DelBene, Leader Jeffries, Gov. Ferguson, Schrier Sound Alarm on Republican Care Assault

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08) held a press event to call out President Trump and Congressional Republican’s assault on our health care system that is raising prices, kicking people off their health coverage, and making families sicker. The leaders…

Final WA Health Insurance Rates Underscore Need to Extend Obamacare Subsidies

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the final 2026 rates for health coverage on the Washington Healthplanfinder, showing an average 21% increase from this year. “One of the biggest concerns I hear from Washington families is how fast health care costs are rising. The final 2026 health coverage premiums on the Washington Healthplanfinder will…

Democrats Decry Trump HHS Hypocrisy After Adding New Red Tape to Medicare

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Health

Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Ami Bera (CA-06) led a group of 17 House Democrats in raising concerns about the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) adding new red tape to traditional Medicare that will delay care and worsen health outcomes. This comes on the heels of an announcement a week prior where the administration took a victory lap on reducing…

WA Health Insurance Premiums to Rise by 65 Percent Because of Trump Megabill

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) underscored the dramatic harm of President Trump’s megabill on Washington families’ access to health coverage during a roundtable with patients, providers, advocates, and state officials. The law, which passed Congress with only Republican votes, will result in a 65 percent increase in health insurance premiums next year for WA Health Benefits…