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Statement

There is ‘No Acceptable Substitute for the Affordable Care Act’s Protections for People with Pre-Existing Conditions’

May 3, 2017
Health Care

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising.org, a national online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families, on the efforts in the House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act
“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.”
 

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.