U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Congressional Resolution to Save Pre-Existing Condition Protections From Harmful Trump Administration Rule Pushing Junk Insurance Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined her Senate and House Democratic colleagues, led by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH), in unveiling a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would roll back the 1332 waiver rule, another Trump Administration effort to sabotage Americans’ health care and another attack on the 130 million Americans who rely on the critical pre-existing condition protections the administration is trying to eliminate.
The rule, if left in place, would allow states to greenlight substandard, junk insurance plans that don’t fully protect people with pre-existing conditions, don’t cover essential health benefits like prescription drugs and maternity coverage, and raise costs on many American families. Under the Congressional Review Act, this resolution must be considered within 60 legislative days of July 15 and can pass the Senate with the support of a simple majority of Senators. The entire Senate Democratic Caucus supports the resolution.
"President Trump is in court right now supporting a lawsuit that would overturn the Affordable Care Act completely, taking away protections for people with pre-existing health conditions,” said Senator Baldwin. “He has also opened the door to taxpayer subsidies for junk insurance plans that don't have to cover essential health care and protections for people with pre-existing conditions. If Senate Republicans support guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing conditions then they will allow a vote on this resolution and vote for it. If they object, then their promises will be exposed for what they are - broken."
“It’s clear that the Trump Administration is determined to limit Americans’ access to health care and undermine protections for millions of people with pre-existing conditions,” said Senator Warner. “The junk plans pushed forward by this Administration will inevitably disrupt our health care system, stripping basic coverage while increasing costs for Virginia families. Congress should protect coverage for vital services like prescription medicines, visits to the emergency room, and maternity care by overturning the Administration’s ill-advised plan to expand the use of junk plans. We have an opportunity here to send a message to the President that instead of attacking the Affordable Care Act, he must work with Congress on targeted, bipartisan fixes that will lower health care costs and expand access to comprehensive, affordable health care coverage.”
“Americans are tired of political attacks on their health coverage, but the Trump Administration continues its efforts to limit access to health care, undermine protections for millions with preexisting conditions, and sabotage the Affordable Care Act,” said Representative Kuster. “We cannot return to the days when individuals living with preexisting conditions could be denied coverage or charged higher rates for care. I was proud to see the House pass my legislation – the Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act – to reverse a Trump Administration rule promoting the sale of junk plans that endanger our health care system and don’t cover preexisting conditions. I’m pleased to join my colleagues in support of this commonsense measure, and I hope that my Republican colleagues in the Senate will support this resolution to strengthen preexisting conditions protections for their constituents and for all Americans.”
The following organizations support the resolution: National Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Heart Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Mended Little Hearts, Hemophilia Federation of America, Chronic Disease Coalition, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, National Organization for Rare Disorders, WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, Susan G. Komen, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, COPD Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Hemophilia Foundation, Arthritis Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Psoriasis Foundation, Alpha-1 Foundation, ALS Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Immune Deficiency Foundation, March of Dimes, American Liver Foundation, National Health Council, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Protect Our Care, and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
