Administration Actions Threaten Vulnerable Populations

At a Ways and Means Committee hearing with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) pointed out that the Administration's actions to eliminate healthcare coverage for those with pre-existing conditions is further jeopardizing vulnerable populations as the coronavirus begins to impact people in the United States.

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After failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act dozens of times in Congress, the Trump Administration filed a lawsuit to strike down the law which has been in place to ensure fair and comprehensive coverage for almost a decade. That lawsuit continues to work its way through the courts.

During an exchange with Secretary Azar, Congressman Higgins argued that should the White House be successful in their lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act, those with pre-existing conditions would not only be without affordable healthcare, but this same population, which includes pregnant women and those with cancers, asthma or congestive heart failure, is at greater risk during the spread of infectious disease.

Higgins said, "Here's my concern with respect to what we are dealing with now. While flu and COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the coronavirus, may not be pre-existing conditions, those with pre-existing conditions: asthma, chronic congestive heart failure, young kids under the age of 5, the elderly, are at greater risk because of their pre-existing conditions to become much worse, triggered by this COVID-19 that we're dealing with. And it is very clear to me and anybody that looks at this, based on fact, that the only law that exists that protects people with pre-existing conditions is the Affordable Care Act. And you're trying to destroy that."

A Kaiser Family Foundation report notes that 31% of the non-elderly population in the Buffalo-Niagara region has a pre-existing condition.

While Medicare ensures coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, without the Affordable Care Act 135 million under age 65, including more than 17 million children, 68 million women and 32 million people between ages 55-64 have a pre-existing condition.

The Affordable Care Act guarantees specific protections for people with pre-existing conditions, including:

* Forbidding insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions

* Preventing insurers from charging people with pre-existing conditions more

* Requiring insurance companies to cover essential health benefits including: maternity, newborn and pediatric care; and emergency room and hospitalization visits

* Banning lifetime caps on coverage

Read this original document at: https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-higgins-says-with-coronavirus-encroaching-white-house-efforts-to