Rep. Courtney Urges Inclusion Of Language Prohibiting Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions In Final Healthcare Reform Package

Press Release

Congressman Joe Courtney hosted a press conference today with other Members of Congress, the National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF), and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in Washington, DC to urge inclusion of language ending the practice of pre-existing condition exclusions in a final healthcare reform package. Congressman Courtney was joined by Rep. John Larson, Chairman, House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Allyson Schwartz, PA-13, Rep. Betty Sutton, OH-13, Rep. Donna Edwards, MD-4, Rep. Gerry Connelly, VA-11, and Rep. Marcia Fudge, OH-11.

"For decades, the health insurance industry has discriminated against millions of Americans, who deserve and desperately need access to affordable health coverage," stated Courtney. "Outlines of health reform bills in the House and Senate have expressed early support for throwing pre-existing condition exclusions into the dustbin of healthcare history, but I want to reiterate that these words and goals must be translated into action. The ambivalent attitude of the healthcare industry to the needs of millions of children and adults must come to an end, and we must make sure that any final reform package includes this long-sought prohibition."

"In the end, another decisive measure of success for the healthcare reform will be the ability of the self-employed, innovators—the entrepreneurs and drivers of our national economy—to access affordable health coverage, regardless of prior medical conditions or age. The Pre-Existing Condition Patient Protection Act will help deliver this success."

As the healthcare reform debate intensifies, initial outlines for reform include eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions, but the cosponsors of H.R. 1558 hosted the press conference to remind all legislators on both sides of the aisle that these protections must be supported and be included in any final version of health care reform.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) sponsored legislation to end pre-existing condition exclusions in both the 110th and 111th Congresses. In March 2009, Representative Courtney introduced H.R. 1558, the Pre-Existing Condition Patient Protection Act, which will provide individuals who suffer from chronic, disabling, and life-threatening conditions with access to comprehensive, meaningful, and affordable health insurance coverage. The bill is supported by 61 Members of Congress and a broad range of patient advocacy and health care organizations.

Courtney's legislation has been considered in two hearings before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee, of which he is a member. In March 2008, a field hearing in Hartford, Connecticut help by subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews (D-NJ) heard testimony from witnesses who had struggled with finding health insurance coverage after being denied for their pre-existing conditions. In addition, witnesses at an April 2009 hearing in Washington stated that current law should "be amended to entirely prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions in employer-based plans" and that "the Pre-Existing Condition Patient Protection Act would do this."

In addition to Courtney's H.R. 1558, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13), is a lead sponsor of The Children's Health Protection Act of 2009, legislation that would prohibit insurers from imposing pre-existing condition limitations on children under the age of 25.

Source