Due to the Affordable Care Act, Up to 17 Million Children Can No Longer Be Denied Health Coverage for Having A Pre-Existing Condition

Statement

Washington -- Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright released figures highlighting the number of children in Pennsylvania with pre-existing conditions who, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, are being protected from discrimination based on their health.

Because of the health care law, since 2010, insurance companies have been prohibited from denying health coverage for the up to 17 million children -- including up to 657,000 in Pennsylvania -- with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, asthma, or diabetes. And beginning in January 2014, under the Affordable Care Act, this protection will extend to adults as well.

"Prior to the Affordable Care Act, in the vast majority of states, insurance companies in the individual and small group markets could deny coverage, charge higher premiums, and/or limit benefits to individuals based on pre-existing conditions," said Cartwright. "This is great news and beginning in January 2014, this protection will extend to adults, too."

Helping middle class families take advantage of the benefits of the health care law like the security of affordable health care coverage for children with pre-existing conditions should be a top priority for lawmakers in Washington. Yet instead of working to fix the law, House Republicans have voted to repeal the health care law more than 40 times, even shutting down the government to prevent new benefits like assured coverage for children with pre-existing conditions, taking away peace of mind for these millions of children and their parents -- including 657,000 in Pennsylvania.

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