Loebsack introduces health insurance bill to cover Iowans

June 06--A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack helps Iowans left without options in the state's health care exchange obtain insurance.

Under the congressman's proposal, coverage would be provided through the DC Health Exchange, DC Healthlink, the same coverage offered to members of Congress and their staffs through the Affordable Care Act.

Last month, the Des Moines Register reported Medica, the third and final carrier selling individual health policies in Iowa, likely would leave the state exchange in 2018 "due to instability in the market."

Aetna and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield announced in May they would stop selling individual policies here next year.

Loebsack's legislation and the health insurance announcements come at a time when the Republican-led Congress is working to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

The House of Representatives passed its American Health Care Act May 4, moving the bill to the Senate, which is working to craft its own legislation.

Loebsack's bill provides access to DC Healthlink to any Iowan living in a county with no access to a private health plan through the state exchange.

"Folks in Congress need to understand that these are real people and real lives we are talking about. My legislation is not meant to be a permanent fix, but we need to give the folks in Iowa who could lose their insurance an option aside from entering into the state's high-risk pool, which is often expensive and provides poor coverage," said Loebsack, representing Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.

"Both Washington and Des Moines need to come together and provide a way forward that will ensure stability for Iowans who rely on the exchange to provide their healthcare coverage."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has introduced the same legislation in the Senate.

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