With Nearly 30 Million Americans Diagnosed With COVID-19, Sen. Baldwin Introduces Legislation to Undo Trump-Era Rule That Dismantled Health Care Coverage for Americans With Preexisting Conditions
With nearly 30 million Americans diagnosed with COVID-19 - a disease disproportionately affecting minority populations - this legislation would ensure that health coverage for individuals living with preexisting conditions meets the ACA's minimum quality and consumer protection standards.
"It's time to turn the page after the
Since the ACA was signed into law in 2010, Congressional Republicans have constantly attempted to overturn it. Unsuccessful in their legislative effort, the Trump administration carried the baton in an effort to bypass the consumer protections available for Americans under the ACA.
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
"
"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 Senators Baldwin, Warner, Cardin, and Shaheen, the legislation is also cosponsored by Senators
A copy of the bill text can be found here: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Bill%20Text%20-%20Protecting%20Americans%20with%20Preexisting%20Conditions%20Act.pdf
A copy of the bill summary can be found here: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/One%20Pager%20-%20Protecting%20Americans%20with%20Preexisting%20Conditions%20Act.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.
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