The Affordable Care Act (ACA) prohibits health insurers from refusing to cover people who have pre-existing conditions, or charging them more because of their pre-existing conditions. There is simply no acceptable substitute for that guarantee.
 
There are reports that Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) plans to introduce an amendment to the American Health Care Act that would provide $8 billion over five years to states that choose to allow insurers to charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing conditions. In no way is that an adequate substitute for the guarantee the ACA provides. It is certain to leave people with pre-existing conditions without the health coverage and care they need. People with middle to low incomes, people who live in rural and other medically underserved communities, people with disabilities, and Black, LatinX, Asian, Native American and LGBTQ+ communities would suffer the most if this bill became law.
 
The Republican alternative is deeply flawed in many ways and this amendment would do nothing to fix its inherent problems. It would make health care less affordable, less accessible, and less comprehensive for the families that need it most. It would decimate Medicaid, which will cause grave harm to seniors and people with disabilities. It would deny essential preventive services to millions by defunding Planned Parenthood.
 
Even with the Upton amendment, a vote for the American Health Care Act is a vote to deny tens of millions of moms and their families the health coverage they need. Moms will fight back unless the House rejects this bill.