Rep. Higgins Assails Administration’s Assault on Health Care

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York, issued the following news release:

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- Vote Comes as Trump Ramps Up Campaign to Dismantle the Affordable Care Act

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Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced approval in the House of Representatives of H.Res. 271, a resolution condemning the Trump Administration's legal attack on America's health care.

Last week the U.S. Department of Justice pursued court action to invalidate the Affordable Care Act in its entirety and throughout the week the President reignited rhetoric calling for abolishing the health coverage that has been available to all Americans since 2014.

Higgins said, "The Trump Administration's craven decision to support a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act in a court case pending before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest escalation in its assault to decimate the ability of Americans with a pre-existing medical condition to access quality health care without fear of discrimination. If they are successful in this attack, the consequences would be devastating."

The Affordable Care Act provided all Americans with a level of guaranteed healthcare coverage and protections previously not available, regardless of how you get your insurance. Should the Administration be successful in their legal action, not only would millions of people who get their coverage through the exchange be uninsured, but insurance companies would no longer be required to provide the following to those that are insured:

Coverage for those with Pre-Existing Conditions

Young Adult Coverage: allowing parents to carry children up to age 26 on their health insurance

Essential Benefits: coverage for prescription drugs; emergency care and hospitalization; maternity, newborn and pediatric care; and substance use and mental health services

Preventative Service Coverage: ACA ensures no co-pays for preventative care such as mammograms and flu shots

Age/Gender non-discrimination: previously insurance companies could charge women more than men; and charge individuals ages 50-64 much higher premiums

Medicare Donut Hole: prior to ACA plans included a coverage gap during which seniors faced massive prescription drug costs

Higgins is supporting efforts to strengthen protections for those with pre-existing conditions as a cosponsor of the recently introduced Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions and Making Health Care More Affordable Act (H.R. 1884) and is leading an effort to expand Medicare as a buy-in option to those over the age of 50.