Rep. Cohen Calls for End to State Litigation Aimed at Denying Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release:

Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), along with dozens of his Congressional colleagues, today wrote to President Trump and to multiple state attorneys general -- including Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III - who are suing the federal government in Texas v. United States. The letters are calling on the attorneys general to drop pending litigation that seeks to allow insurance companies to deny health insurance coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions.

The letters note that the President and the Senate Majority Leader claim they are fully supportive of coverage for pre-existing conditions despite years of effort by them to kill or weaken the 2010 Affordable Care Act that guarantees those protections. President Trump's U.S. Department of Justice has refused to intervene to uphold those protections.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"There is a lengthy record of statements and votes establishing that the President and the Senate Majority Leader, who are now claiming to support the popular protections for people with pre-existing conditions, have worked for years to end those protections. A change of heart would be welcome but actions speak louder than words. Trump-aligned state attorneys general, including Tennessee's, are still advancing litigation that, if successful, would end those protections. If they're serious about their newfound position, they should call for this litigation to be dropped."

Open enrollment for 2019 HealthCare.gov coverage plans for the Affordable Care Act begins Thursday, November 1 and ends December 15.