Rep. Rush Slams Trump Administration’s Plan to Wipe Out Protections for People With Pre-Existing Conditions

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Illinois, issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.) slammed Republicans' attacks on health insurance protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as the Trump Administration argued in court that the Affordable Care Act's provisions preventing insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more for pre-existing conditions should be struck down. According to the Center for American Progress, loss of these protections would impact the approximately 5,471,600 Illinoisans who have pre-existing conditions.

"It has become increasingly clear that Republicans in Washington will do anything to deliberately destroy the health coverage of people with pre-existing conditions," said Rush. "House Republicans tried to take away these protections in their failed and cruel Trumpcare proposal, and now the Trump Justice Department is willing to threaten hardworking families' healthcare once again. Their actions are not only callous but irresponsible."

"If Trump and his Washington Republican cronies get their way, pregnant women and Illinoisans with asthma, arthritis, cancer, depression, diabetes, or other pre-existing conditions will be left with uncertainty and face higher healthcare costs and shoddier coverage," Rush continued. "The American people deserve better than this cynical attempt to deliberately sabotage the Affordable Care Act.

Additionally, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, provisions of the GOP tax scam for the rich and well-connected that is collapsing under the weight of public opinion, will spike premiums by an average of 15 percent for Americans purchasing insurance on the individual market and push another 3 million off their coverage altogether.

"My constituents in the 1st Congressional District and everyone throughout Illinois and the country have had enough of being targeted by a spiteful group of Washington Republicans working to undermine affordable health care and drive up families' premiums," said Rush. "I am proud to fight alongside my Democratic colleagues to protect Americans' health care, lower their costs, and rise above these challenges to offer A Better Deal."