Democratic Governors Association: Reeves Must Denounce Lawsuit Jeopardizing Mississippians’ Health Care Coverage

WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The Democratic Governors Association issued the following news:

Today, oral arguments begin in New Orleans for a Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant-backed lawsuit that could end protections for Mississippians with a pre-existing condition and jeopardize funding if the state accepts federal dollars for health care. Here are some of the ways this lawsuit could have disastrous results for Mississippi:

* Insurance companies could refuse to cover 1.2 million Mississippians with a pre-existing condition.

* 100,000 Mississippians could lose their health insurance, leading to a 25 percent increase in the uninsured rate.

* Insurance companies would be able to impose lifetime limits on coverage for those insured through their employer or on the individual market.

* Mississippi women can be charged more than men.

* Mississippians over the age of 50 could face a $3,300 "age tax," which would allow insurance companies to charge people over 50 more than young people.

* Insurance companies would no longer be required to cover prescription drugs and maternity care.

* Access to treatment for Mississippians with a substance use disorder would be in jeopardy.

Reeves would continue the disastrous policies sabotaging Mississippians' health care that have led to hospital closures and 313,000 Mississippians remaining needlessly uninsured. By 2022, Mississippi will have given up $14.5 billion in federal funding for health care while funding $1.7 billion in health care for other states.

"Tate Reeves' silence on this reckless lawsuit shows voters can't trust him to protect health care for Mississippians with a pre-existing condition," said DGA Communications Director David Turner. "Mississippians are already seeing the disastrous effects of a Reeves health care agenda--hospital closures and 313,000 Mississippians remain uninsured because the state has refused federal dollars for health care. Reeves must explain why he refuses to condemn this lawsuit that could strip 100,000 Mississippians of their health care and why he continues to stand in the way of 313,000 Mississippians gaining health insurance coverage."