U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly released the following statement after the Administration issued new guidance that continues its efforts to undermine our country’s healthcare markets. The guidance would make it easier for states to bring “junk” healthcare plans, or other non-Affordable Care Act compliant plans, into their markets. These plans are allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Donnelly said, “Instead of proposing rules that undermine coverage for Americans with a pre-existing condition, the Administration should be working with a bipartisan coalition in Congress to make health care more affordable and accessible. Earlier this month, I voted against the ‘junk’ plans this guidance props up because they make it more difficult and more expensive for hard-working Hoosier families trying to access quality coverage.”
This guidance applies to states seeking to receive a Section 1332 waiver from the Department of Health and Human Services. Donnelly has previously stated his opposition to, and voted against, short term “junk” plans as they are not required to cover pre-existing conditions and often have caps on coverage. The Administration’s rule could make it more difficult and expensive for those with pre-existing conditions to purchase plans on the health insurance marketplaces.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 30 percent of Hoosiers under the age of 65 (more than 1.1 million people) have pre-existing conditions that could have left them with no coverage or facing higher rates, before the Affordable Care Act prohibited such discrimination.
