Bustos Helps Pass Legislation to Lower Health Care Costs, Protect Illinoisans with Pre-Existing Conditions

Statement

Fighting back against Washington Republican efforts to raise costs for Illinoisans, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) helped pass legislation to protect affordable care for people with pre-existing conditions. Congresswoman Bustos and House Democrats passed H.R. 986 -- the Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act of 2019. This bill would reverse sabotage by the Trump Administration that weakened standards on affordability, comprehensiveness and coverage of health insurance plans.

"It's simple -- the White House's actions will undermine patient protections and make health care more expensive when folks get sick," Congresswoman Bustos said. "That's why this week, the House has taken concrete actions to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs for all Americans. Now it's up to the Senate to follow our lead. But if Mitch McConnell continues to be the self-proclaimed "grim reaper' for our bills to bring down the cost of health care, it's the American people who will suffer from his partisan gamesmanship."

BACKGROUND

Last fall, Washington Republicans continued their ongoing assault on Americans' health care by issuing new, dangerous guidance on Section 1332 waivers, allowing states to undermine the Affordable Care Act's critical patient protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Among other provisions, the guidance allows states to promote junk insurance plans that discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions and do not cover essential benefits -- exposing patients to astronomical costs if they get sick.

Specifically, the Trump Administration's guidance would:

Raise health care costs. The guidance also allows states to direct ACA subsidies towards short-term plans and association health plans, which could seriously destabilize the risk pool for both Marketplace plans and ACA-compliant plans offered outside the Marketplaces. This would drive up premiums for individuals who need comprehensive coverage, and cause insurers to withdraw from the individual market.
Promote plans that lack coverage for pre-existing conditions. The guidance states that the Administration will "consider favorably" state proposals that promote short-term plans and association health plans. In contrast to ACA plans, short-term plans can deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on people's health status and pre-existing conditions. They also exclude coverage of any care related to a pre-existing condition. Both short-term and association health plans can charge far higher rates to older people than ACA plans can, and neither type of plan must cover the ACA's essential health benefits. States would now be allowed to expand these plans and count them as coverage, so long as individuals have "access" to comprehensive coverage.
Reduce the benefits that health plans cover. The new guidance would allow states to have fewer people enrolled in plans that provide essential health benefits (EHBs), like maternity coverage, mental health care or prescription drugs. States must merely show that at least as many people will have "access" to comprehensive coverage -- in other words, show that such coverage is available, even if far fewer people can afford it or enroll in it.
There are nearly 5.5 million Illinoisans living with pre-existing conditions

Source