Kuster Leads House Democrats in Effort to Save Pre-Existing Condition Protections from Harmful Trump Administration Rule Pushing Junk Plans

Statement

Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH) was joined by 25 House Democratic Colleagues in introducing 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. An identical resolution was introduced in the Senate earlier this week by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), and was cosponsored by all 47 Senate Democrats. Under the Congressional Review Act, this resolution must be considered within 60 legislative days and can pass the Senate with the support of a simple majority of Senators.

"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 Rep. 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, Chron'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.