HARRISBURG, October 16, 2018 – Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) was joined by Representative Pete Schweyer (D-Lehigh), Representative Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), Representative Helen Tai (D-Bucks) and Representative Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) Tuesday in a call to protect health care protections for individuals with preexisting conditions.
The legislators expressed support for Senate Bill 958 and House Bill 2552, bills that would maintain Affordable Care Act standards for people with preexisting conditions. Hughes and Schweyer introduced the legislation to ensure health care access to Pennsylvanians should federal legislators roll back current protections.
“The federal proposal to strip benefits from those with preexisting conditions is despicable,” Sen. Hughes said. “We are fighting politicians who would penalize people in dire straits and make their lives more difficult by taking away health care rights under the Affordable Care Act. Senate Bill 958 will protect Pennsylvanians with preexisting conditions and I’m happy to work with Representative Schweyer in the House on this important cause.”
Federal lawmakers and the Trump Administration have signaled a desire to strip Affordable Care Act provisions that protect those with preexisting conditions. Sen. Hughes and Rep. Schweyer’s proposals would amend the state Insurance Company Law to prohibit health insurance companies from denying or excluding coverage based on an individual’s preexisting medical conditions.
“People deserve equal access to health insurance regardless of if they have a pre-existing condition and they shouldn’t lose their house paying for it,” Rep. Schweyer said. “By not defending the ACA, the Trump administration is putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians at risk and HB 2552 is our way to fight back.”
Senator Hughes full remarks can be seen here.