Pre-existing condition protections are under attack

Pre-existing condition protections are under attack.  The Trump Administration has made the unfortunate decision not to have the Department of Justice defend the crucial insurance reforms included in the Affordable Care Act, including the provision requiring health insurance companies to cover those with pre-existing conditions.

Protect Our Care Indiana Spokeswoman Kate Shepherd issued the following statement:

“This move is an outrage for the more than 2.7 million Hoosiers with pre-existing medical conditions. Even those who never needed to utilize the health insurance Marketplace benefited from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that meant insurers in the individual market could no longer drop or deny coverage, or charge them more, because of a pre-existing condition.

“By adding to the uncertainty in the health care markets, the Administration’s action could encourage insurance companies to propose even higher rate increases than the double-digit hikes already threatening to hit Indiana families next year.

“Poll after poll has shown that health care is the top issue for voters this November.  This move will only fuel that concern.  Voters in Indiana should remember that Senator Joe Donnelly has consistently promised to protect the ACA, while his opponent Mike Braun has supported the Trump Administration’s desire to repeal the act and its protections.  Remember in November.”

Protect Our Care Indiana is a localized member of the national Protect Our Care coalition of health care advocates, providers, consumers, and workers, joining together to prevent the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), prevent disastrous changes to Medicaid, and protect and expand access to quality affordable health care.