Sen. Hassan on Senate Floor Calls for Overriding Trump Administration’s Rule Promoting Dangerous Junk Insurance Plans

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release:

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- Senator Hassan's Speech Comes Before Senate Votes on a Resolution to Undo Trump Administration's Rule That Threatens Pre-Existing Condition Protections for Millions of Americans

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Senator Maggie Hassan today took to the Senate floor to discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to allow insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions by promoting short-term insurance plans, otherwise known as "junk plans." The Senator's speech comes before the full Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on a resolution that would overturn the Trump Administration's rule that gives states the green light to expand junk plans to the public.

"I rise today to discuss the Trump Administration's efforts to undermine our health insurance system and scam health care consumers by allowing harmful health plans to be sold to unsuspecting, vulnerable Americans," Senator Hassan said. "Since the President's first day in office, his Administration has taken measure after measure that makes it harder for patients to access necessary care, weakens our health care system, and increases costs. And this latest effort to expand access to - what are appropriately referred to as - junk health insurance plans would allow insurance companies to discriminate against Americans who experience pre-existing conditions and also leave patients with higher health care costs and worse insurance coverage."

The Trump Administration's rule expands the sale and marketing of junk plans, which do not cover even the most basic benefits, such as maternity care or prescription drugs. Unfortunately, it is often only when someone is in the middle of a medical crisis that they realize how bad these plans actually are. As a result, patients can either be left with an incredibly high out-of-pocket medical bill, or the patient chooses not to receive the care that they need, which could lead to adverse health outcomes or an unplanned trip to the emergency room.

Senator Hassan continued, "If you are someone with a pre-existing condition, such as asthma, diabetes, or cancer, you can be charged more - sometimes truly astronomical amounts - for insurance that won't even cover many of your most basic benefits, or you can be denied certain benefits altogether," Senator Hassan continued. "People like Bernadette Clarke of Manchester, whose youngest son is living with cerebral palsy, a complex medical condition, and would not have access to the type of health insurance that she and her family needs if not for the protections that the Affordable Care Act afforded to people with pre-existing conditions."

Senator Hassan concluded, "Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and patients universally oppose these junk plans because they know how dangerous these plans are for the health and well-being of our people. I urge every Senator to stand with Granite Staters and all Americans in opposing the Trump Administration's latest attack on our health care system."