DeLauro Calls on Republicans to Stop Attacking Coverage for Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions
WASHINGTON, DC (May 2, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today joined Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Members of Congress, and Americans that would be impacted by the Republican health care bill to discuss the bill's impact on people with pre-existing conditions.
Click here to watch the full remarks.
Here are the remarks, as delivered:
Thank you very much, Madam Leader, and good morning to all. I want to thank the Leader for always championing the cause of everyday Americans, and in this particular fight for health care, which she has been steadfast over the last several years in making sure we do have affordable health care effort today.
I'm glad to be joined by my colleagues and especially to say, welcome to Maureen, to Denise, and to Emily—we are so grateful that you have stood up to share the impact of the Affordable Care Act and the impact it has had on you and your families.
There is a reason the Republican health care bill went down in flames when they tried to bring it up on the floor several weeks ago. It would have raised premiums and deductibles. It would have imposed an age tax on older Americans, making health care unaffordable. It was reckless and it was heartless.
But then the Republicans went back to drawing board. And their new proposal makes a bad bill worse because it unravels the protections for patients with pre-existing conditions and it eliminates coverage for essential benefits.
President Trump's claim that people with pre-existing conditions will be covered is false—it is plain false, and it has life-threatening consequences for millions of Americans, including some in this very room.
And before we passed the Affordable Care Act to put doctors and patients back at the center of health care decisions, insurance companies would revoke care for people with pre-existing conditions, or they would charge them exorbitantly. But because we passed the Affordable Care Act, Americans who have a pre-existing condition or their children who have pre-existing conditions can now get the care they need to survive.
Take a cancer survivor—because of the Affordable Care Act, they cannot be discriminated against because of having cancer. It goes further—because the insurance they get through the Affordable Care Act includes coverage for preventative cancer screenings, prescription drugs, covers young adults up to age 26, and does not have annual or lifetime caps that the Leader spoke about.
The same goes for people with diabetes—they do not just benefit from protections for patients with pre-existing conditions—they have the benefit from copay-free screenings, annual wellness visits, and drug coverage.
For individuals with a mental health or behavioral condition, or a substance abuse disorder like addiction, those conditions are not disqualifying for high-quality insurance—the Affordable Care Act required that new plans cover mental health services and essential benefits.
Instead of increasing costs, we should protect coverage for pre-existing conditions and make health care coverage affordable.
I get my health care through the insurance exchange in the Affordable Care Act. That's where I get my and most Members of Congress get their health care. I have a pre-existing condition. I am an ovarian cancer survivor. I am covered and I can pay for it and I can get what I need. This is a very personal fight for me and we will continue this fight.
For working Americans, the stakes could not be higher. We will keep fighting these attempts to dismantle health care, because as the Leader spoke about, this is about people's lives, this is about surviving. And now it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Maureen Murphy from Virginia, who will share her story with all of us. Thank you.
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