Rep. Yoho Bill Increases Health Insurance Options for Americans

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., issued the following news release:

Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL) introduced the Holding Health Insurers Harmless Act, a bill that encourages the private sector to participate in the sale of health insurance plans as we move forward on healthcare reform. Congressman Yoho released the following statement:

"As we hammer out a replacement to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is important that all Americans have access to quality health insurance. Since ACA was signed into law, many insurers have either refused to participate in the exchanges established by the ACA, or have stopped participating in them altogether. In some states there is only one health insurance provider and option. This is unacceptable and not what was promised.

"This is a major problem, especially considering the fact that health insurers are devising the plans they will offer for the next business year and beyond. The private sector will factor in what we accomplish over the next few weeks in their decisions on whether to provide certain plans. So, we need to let those insurers know that help is on the way.

"The bill I introduced today assures insurance companies that they will not be penalized by any federal agency if they offer insurance plans like they were able to before the ACA was signed into law. This bill keeps protections for people with pre-existing conditions and allows individuals to stay on their parent's plans till age twenty-six while these companies plan for the future. Allowing them to do this, without penalty, will benefit the American people and help in our transition to a better, patient-centered, healthcare system."

The Bill's Key Reforms:

* Returns federal requirements on health insurance plans back to the legal regime before the ACA's mandates and penalties came into force, so we have time to work on replacing the ACA with effective reform.

* Provides certainty to private sector insurers that they can provide plans outside of the ACA's requirements, without having to face penalties from any part of the federal government.

* Does not require insurers to provide certain plans, nor does it prevent them from providing plans that still comply with the ACA.

* The bill simply gives insurers much needed leeway to provide the full range of health insurance options, without being penalized by the federal government under the ACA for doing so.

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