Fighting for those with Pre-Existing Conditions: Capitol Solutions

Statement

I have sat with families at Blank Children's Hospital and with Iowans with disabilities in their homes who, like me, want to ensure protections for those with pre-existing conditions remain strong. I have a record of supporting protecting those with pre-existing conditions and have taken steps to ensure they can't be denied coverage, charged more because of their condition, and they get the care they need.

Many of you have reached out to my office in Washington, D.C. or one of my three district offices in Des Moines, Creston, and Council Bluffs on this issue. Some have dropped off letters, others have made calls, and some have engaged with me on social media. I agree we need to protect those with pre-existing conditions to ensure they have the ability to have secure access to quality and affordable health care coverage, and I've consistently fought in Congress to advance this priority of ours.

When the U.S. House of Representatives was considering the American Health Care Act last year, I couldn't support the bill in its original form because it didn't have enough protections for those with pre-existing conditions. So, I did what Iowans expected me to do -- I worked to make the bill better. Because of my efforts, an amendment I sponsored and pushed was accepted to the bill with the following four protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

First, insurance companies cannot deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Also, insurance companies cannot price out anyone with a pre-existing conditions. And if a state receives a waiver from the Affordable Care Act, it must provide protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Finally, additional funding was provided to help those with pre-existing conditions pay for insurance or medical bills in case they lost coverage for any reason.

In July of this year, I contacted Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to include strong protections for those with pre-existing conditions as the department worked to create Short-Term Limited Duration Insurance Plans. Given the temporary nature of these plans, they aren't required to ensure protections for those with pre-existing conditions. I told Secretary Azar the expansion of these plans without adequate coverage for those with pre-existing conditions would leave those with serious illnesses vulnerable.

And just a few weeks ago, I introduced a resolution with over 25 of my colleagues stating Congress must always support protections for those with pre-existing conditions. If an act of Congress or a lawsuit undermines current protections for pre-existing conditions, we must immediately act to reinstate and strengthen those protections.

Democrats tried a partisan approach to health care and it isn't working for many Iowans. Republicans tried a partisan approach to health care which couldn't pass the Congress. It's time for everyone to come together, set aside the partisan talking points and work to fix a broken health care system. I will continue to listen to Iowans and work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who, like me, want a health care solution working for all Americans.

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