Sen. Warner: With Nearly 30 Million Americans Diagnosed With COVID-19, Senators Introduce Legislation to Undo President Trump Era Rule That Dismantled Health Care Coverage for Americans With Preexisting Conditions
"In the midst of an unprecedented health crisis caused by COVID-19, we should make it easier, not harder, for more Americans to get access to affordable health care coverage. Unfortunately, the Trump administration used every tool at their disposal to undermine the success of the Affordable Care Act, including by flooding the health insurance market with plans that don't offer protections for the 30 million Americans who've been diagnosed with COVID-19," said
"For the hundreds of millions of Americans who have pre-existing conditions like arthritis, cancer, heart disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or pregnancy, it is critical that health insurance fully protect them and cover essential health benefits.
"The Trump administration's dangerous efforts to undermine and unravel the Affordable Care Act - and in the middle of the greatest health crisis of our lifetime - is shameful. It also demands a robust response to mitigate the damage done and ensure every American has access to the quality, affordable care they deserve. That's precisely what this legislation aims to do," said
"It's time to turn the page after the Trump Administration spent years sabotaging our health care system and threatening guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing health conditions," said
Since the ACA was signed into law in 2010, congressional
Beginning in 2018, the Trump administration issued changes to the 1332 waiver guidance in its effort to sabotage Americans' health care and undermine the critical preexisting condition protections that millions of Americans rely on. On
The bill also boasts the support of numerous organizations, including the
"The importance of ensuring individuals have access to high quality, comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage cannot be overstated," said
"People with bleeding disorders and other serious health conditions rely on comprehensive health care coverage and stable insurance markets. HFA is pleased to support this bill which would roll back harmful guidance and rules released over the past three years, restoring key guardrails around the section 1332 waiver process," said
"The Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act would overturn dangerous CMS guidance that allows states to undermine critical protections for millions of Americans living with pre-existing conditions. Under the guidance issued in 2018, 'state innovation waivers' could allow for the sale of cheap, inadequate health insurance plans that can deny coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, charge them more for being sick or retroactively rescind coverage. We thank
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"For more than a decade, cancer patients have relied on the vital protections provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Recent regulations expanded and promoted access to subpar insurance products, including Association Health Plans and short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI), which have undercut important patient protections and may leave patients vulnerable. These regulations also permitted states to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize inadequate insurance, exposing patients and consumers to greater risk while simultaneously increasing premiums for those who rely on the comprehensive coverage. This legislation is an important step in reining in subpar insurance and a critical component of ensuring patients have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance. We applaud
In addition to Sens. Warner, Cardin, Shaheen, and Baldwin, the legislation is also cosponsored by Sens.
A copy of the bill text can be found here: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/e/4/e4e09bd1-dba3-4f3d-b9d2-839d1a8e85de/6397912A45B35F9BB1BF34F0F9885E07.bon21306.pdf
A copy of the bill summary can be found here: https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/d/b/db9423e7-acfa-4a8f-9140-39b1606aadd1/CF594E116A5E352D5C9CEFEDE681B8B1.the-protecting-americans-with-preexisting-conditions-act-2021-bill-summary.pdf
The introduction of the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2021 comes on the heels of
The American Rescue Plan offers states additional incentives to expand their Medicaid programs to millions more Americans. More than 4 million Americans are eligible for Medicaid under the federal expansion included in the ACA, but live in states that have elected not to expand their Medicaid programs. The American Rescue Plan encourages states to expand their Medicaid programs by offering a two year federal matching payment of 95 percent. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan also ensures that Americans have access to affordable health care coverage by extending premium assistance and capping health care costs at a maximum of 8.5 percent of household income. These provisions are similar to actions
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