FACT SHEET: Republicans Support Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions - House Committee on Ways and Means (2024)

FACT SHEET: Republicans Support Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions

A Joint Guide by Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Education & Labor Republicans

September 29, 2020 — Blog

Republicans stand with patients who have pre-existing conditions and have fought for legislation to protect them. Every single Democrat has voted against Republican measures designed to help patients.

CLICK HERE to download this fact sheet as a PDF.

Key Points:

  • No American should fear being unable to access health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
  • Republicans support a health insurance system that protects Americans with pre-existing conditions, increases transparency and choice, and lowers costs.
  • Protections for those with pre-existing conditions are in place today and will remain the law of the land, even during legal challenges. Whatever happens, Republicans will secure those protections.
  • Democrats should stop playing politics and affirm pre-existing condition protections into law right now, but they would rather score political points than admit the ACA’s foundation was unconstitutional and pass actual legislation to protect patients.

Republicans Have Fought for Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions

Republicans are fighting to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Democrats are rejecting these moves:

  • As our first act this Congress, House Republicans forced a vote to protect vulnerable Americans and ensure that their coverage would not be caught up in questions of constitutionality before the Court.
  • Then, Democrats twice rejected H. Res. 280, introduced by E&C Republican Leader Walden and W&M Republican Leader Brady, to expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that no American should lose protections for pre-existing conditions due to the enactment of an unconstitutional law, and that Congress should enact bipartisan legislation to guarantee affordable health insurance coverage if the Supreme Court decides Obamacare is unconstitutional.
  • Further legislation, like Republican Leader Walden’s H.R. 692, the Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2019, have been offered by Congressional Republicans to achieve this goal.

Republicans are on record protecting those with pre-existing conditions:

  • House Republicans originally championed these protections for the vast majority of the privately insured in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
  • During debate on the American Health Care Act (AHCA), and since, House Republicans reiterated their strong support for protections for those with pre-existing health conditions.
  • House Republicans support crucial patient protections – including a ban on lifetime limits, allowing 26-year-olds to stay on parents’ plans, a guarantee of being able to get insurance with a pre-existing condition, and no “hidden” exclusions that prevent those with pre-existing conditions from getting benefits – while giving Americans the choice to purchase health care coverage that best fits their needs.

Republicans believe in lasting protection for those with pre-existing conditions:

  • Democrats want to rob states of the authority to address the unique health needs of their own communities, in pursuit of a one-size-fits-all government takeover through Medicare for All.
  • We should instead focus on lowering the costs of health care by fixing surprise billing, making prescription drugs more affordable, and empowering patients with transparency and choice.

About the Latest Lawsuit Arising from Democrats’ Reckless Passage of Obamacare

Twenty states, led by Texas, are arguing Obamacare’s individual mandate is unconstitutional. A District Court judge in Texas agreed. The defendants filed an appeal in the Fifth Circuit, whose judges found that the Obamacare’s individual mandate is unconstitutional. They sent the question of what happens to the rest of the law’s provisions back to the District Court. Now, the Supreme Court is scheduled to weigh in on the case this fall.

SUBCOMMITTEE: Health

FACT SHEET: Republicans Support Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions - House Committee on Ways and Means (2024)

FAQs

FACT SHEET: Republicans Support Protections for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions - House Committee on Ways and Means? ›

Key Points: No American should fear being unable to access health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Republicans support a health insurance system that protects Americans with pre-existing conditions, increases transparency and choice, and lowers costs.

How did Republicans respond to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act? ›

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed by a Democratic Congress and signed into law by a Democratic president in 2010. Republican congressmen, governors, and Republican candidates have consistently opposed the ACA and have vowed to repeal it.

What is the Republican Party's view on health care? ›

The GOP plan prohibits an insurer from cancelling a policy unless a person commits fraud or conceals material facts about a health condition. It also prohibits insurance plans from instituting annual or lifetime spending limits. Encouraging Small Business Health Plans.

Are Republicans red or blue? ›

In the United States, red represents the Republican party and blue represents the Democratic party in a winner-takes-all election. This dichotomization provides a simple visual representation of election outcomes, but it conceals the margin of votes by which an election is won/lost.

What are the Republican priorities? ›

Our platform is centered on stimulating economic growth for all Americans, protecting constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and maintaining our national security.

Is the ACA good or bad? ›

Since its enactment on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has led to an historic advancement of health equity in the United States. This landmark law improved the health of all Americans, including women and families, kids, older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ and communities of color.

What are the disadvantages of the Affordable Care Act? ›

Cons
  • Many people have to pay higher premiums. ...
  • You can be fined if you don't have insurance. ...
  • Taxes are going up as a result of the ACA. ...
  • It's best to be prepared for enrollment day. ...
  • Businesses are cutting employee hours to avoid covering employees.

How do Democrats view healthcare vs Republican? ›

Democrats were more likely to support a requirement that everyone must have health insurance coverage, with government assistance for those who cannot afford it; 50% strongly and 30% somewhat favoured such action. Republicans were more reticent: only 25% and 27% favoured such a requirement.

Which of the following public policies would Republicans be most likely to support? ›

The public policy that Republicans would be most likely to support is creating a less restrictive marketplace environment. This aligns with the Republican preference for cutting taxes and reducing regulation on businesses, as they believe this fosters job creation and economic growth.

What do liberals think about Medicaid? ›

Liberals view Medicaid as diverting the Nation's attention from the need for national health insurance. They are troubled by the fact that the program covers less than one-half the Nation's poor and that there are substantial variations in State Medicaid programs.

What is the most Democratic state? ›

As of 2018, Massachusetts was the most Democratic state, with 56% of residents identifying as Democrats, while only 27% of residents identified as Republicans.

What do Republicans believe in? ›

The positions of the Republican Party have evolved over time. Currently, the party's fiscal conservatism includes support for lower taxes, gun rights, government conservatism, free market capitalism, free trade, deregulation of corporations, and restrictions on labor unions.

What is the difference between a Democrat and a Republican? ›

The Democratic Party typically supports a larger government role in economic issues, backing regulations and social welfare programs. The Republicans, however, typically want a smaller government that is less involved in the economy.

What are key Republican principles? ›

7 Core Principles of Conservatism
  • Individual Freedom. The birth of our great nation was inspired by the bold declaration that our individual,God-given liberties should be preserved against government intrusion. ...
  • Limited Government. ...
  • The Rule of Law. ...
  • Peace through Strength. ...
  • Fiscal Responsibility. ...
  • Free Markets. ...
  • Human Dignity.

What is the main focus of the Republican Party? ›

The Republican Party is known to support right-leaning ideologies of conservatism, social conservatism, and economic libertarianism, among other -isms. Thus, Republicans broadly advocate for traditional values, a low degree of government interference, and large support of the private sector.

What is the Republican rule? ›

Though conceptually separate from democracy, republicanism included the key principles of rule by consent of the governed and sovereignty of the people. In effect, republicanism held that kings and aristocracies were not the real rulers, but rather the whole people were.

Do Republicans like the Affordable Care Act? ›

Views of the ACA are still largely driven by partisanship; nearly nine in ten Democrats (87%) along with two-thirds of independents (65%) view the law favorably, while two-thirds of Republicans (66%) hold unfavorable views.

How many times did the Republicans try to repeal the Affordable Care Act? ›

Following the 2012 Supreme Court ruling upholding ACA as constitutional, Republicans held another vote to repeal the law on July 11; the House of Representatives voted with all 244 Republicans and 5 Democrats in favor of repeal, which marked the 33rd, partial or whole, repeal attempt.

Who supported the Affordable Care Act? ›

The bill passed with support of the majority of Democrats, together with one Republican who voted only after the necessary 218 votes had already been cast.

What do Democrats believe about the Affordable Care Act? ›

Democrats believe that quality, affordable health care is a right – not a privilege – for every American.

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