AHA Statement on the Protecting Pre-Existing Conditions & Making Health Care More Affordable Act of 2019

Rick Pollack

AHA President and CEO

March 26, 2019

There’s no doubt that our country needs to improve coverage and access. Today’s bill proposed by House Democrats can help achieve both. Among the many policies in the bill we support are protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions and essential health benefits, fully funding efforts to educate consumers about their coverage options, and protecting consumers from “health plans” that do not constitute true insurance, including short-term, limited-duration policies.  

A report we released earlier this month showed that taking steps to strengthen the current system – as this bill does – would result in more people gaining coverage than under other proposals that would more fundamentally disrupt how Americans get coverage, such as a Medicare public option. America’s hospitals and health systems remain committed to working together with policymakers to ensure access for patients and better care for America.

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Contact:       

Marie Johnson, (202) 626-2351 mjohnson@aha.org

Colin Milligan, (202) 638-5491 cmilligan@aha.org