House Dems Introduce the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has joined House Democratic colleagues in cosponsoring theProtecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act, sweeping new legislation that will lower health insurance premiums, crack down on junk health insurance plans, strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and reverse the Trump Administration’s health care sabotage. The introduction of the bill comes on the heels of the President’s latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act in federal court.

“If only this Administration were as relentless in protecting our elections from foreign interference as it is with trying to steal people’s health insurance, we may actually be able to solve some of our health care woes,” Engel said. “Unfortunately, President Trump and his GOP cronies are only fixated on repealing the ACA, not helping the American people who are struggling to pay for their prescription medications. Therefore, it is up to House Democrats to work toward improving care, while also fighting to preserve the vital protections that are already in place.

“With the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care Affordable Act, Democrats are taking another step forward to meet our promise to lower health costs, while also ensuring sure those with pre-existing conditions remain fully covered. I am proud to cosponsor this important legislation.”

The Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019 includes provisions that will:

Lower health insurance premiums with strengthened and expanded affordability assistance

• Strengthening tax credits in the Marketplace to lower Americans’ health insurance premiums and allows more middle-class individuals and families to qualify for subsidies;
• Ensuring that families who don’t have an offer of affordable coverage from an employer can still qualify for subsidies in the Marketplace; and,
• Providing funding for reinsurance, to help with high cost claims, improve Marketplace stability, and prevent the Trump Administration’s sabotage from raising premiums.

Strengthen protections for people with pre-existing conditions

• Curtailing the Trump Administration’s efforts to give states waivers to undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions and weaken standards for essential health benefits, which would leave consumers with less comprehensive plans that do not cover needed services, such as prescription drugs, maternity care, and substance use disorder treatment.

Stop insurance companies from selling junk health insurance plans

• Stopping the Trump Administration’s efforts to push Americans into junk health insurance plans that do not provide coverage for essential medical treatments and drugs, and that are allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Reverse the GOP’s health care sabotage that has needlessly driven up premiums and uninsured rates, and empower states to innovate and invest in enrolling more people in affordable health coverage

• Reversing the Trump Administration’s sabotage by requiring open enrollment outreach, education, and funding for navigators;
• Investing in state efforts to conduct outreach to increase enrollment, educate consumers of their rights, and help individuals navigate the health insurance system;
• Empowering states to implement new approaches to increasing enrollment and allows states to set up their own Marketplaces; and
• Holding the Administration accountable for its use of federal dollars dedicated to increasing enrollment, outreach and running the federal exchange.