Trump Continues Efforts to Attack Coverage Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions, Heller Falls in Line

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 23 -- Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, the Democratic nominee for the Senate, issued the following campaign news:

The Trump Administration is continuing its efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and attack coverage protections for patients with pre-existing conditions by lowering the standards that states must meet in order to benefit from ACA waivers. This could allow state insurance markets to discriminate against Nevadans with pre-existing conditions with no repercussions.

Considering Sen. Dean Heller's record of rubber-stamping Trump's out-of-touch health care agenda to spike costs and strip coverage, Nevadans can't trust him to stand up against this dangerous new policy and protect their care. Over and over, Senator Heller has caved to pressure and sided with his party leaders instead of doing what's right for Nevadans with pre-existing conditions. After breaking his promise and voting to dismantle the ACA, Heller refused to oppose a Trump-backed lawsuit targeting pre-existing conditions protections and instead signed on to sham legislation that fails to fully protect Nevadans. Most recently, Heller cast a deciding vote in support of continuing the Trump Administration's expansion of junk health insurance plans.

During last week's debate, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen spoke on behalf of Reno parents Theresa Bohannan and Briant Gibb, whose son Dean was born with a heart defect and will have a pre-existing medical condition for the rest of his life, and asked Senator Heller directly why he has supported slashing protections for children like Dean. Instead of giving Theresa and Briant an honest answer, Heller repeated lies that have already been repeatedly debunked. Theresa slammed Heller for lying again at the debate and his record of voting to dismantle pre-existing conditions.

Now the Trump Administration is taking an even more dramatic step to encourage insurers to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, and Senator Heller will follow the same pattern of listening to GOP leaders instead of Nevadans.

Rosen for Nevada spokesperson Miranda van Dijk released the following statement:

"Dean Heller's blind support for President Trump's harmful, reckless agenda to dismantle the Affordable Care Act will allow big insurance companies to go back to discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions while receiving subsidies meant to protect people's health care. Nevada deserves a Senator we can trust to be an independent check on Washington to stand up for their health, but Dean Heller keeps proving he's too spineless to fight for Nevadans with pre-existing conditions."