Trump Administration’s inadequate plans insure very little and will drive up costs
MEDIA STATEMENT
February 20, 2018
Contact: Adam Fox, 303-563-9108, afox@cohealthinitiative.org
Katie Reinisch, 303-653-1009, katie@progressive-promotions.com
DENVER – The US Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed regulations announced earlier today to expand short-term limited-duration insurance may steer some Coloradans to buy skimpy, inadequate, sham insurance plans and leave people with pre-existing conditions facing premium spikes.
This statement is the Protect Our Care Colorado coalition’s response to the HHS proposal and can be attributed to Adam Fox, Director of Strategic Engagement of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.
“These inadequate “insurance plans” actually insure very little for Coloradans. Expanding short-term plans beyond what they were designed for could lead some Coloradans to buy skimpy insurance. These sham insurance plans do not have to comply with popular and core provisions of the ACA such as coverage for essential health benefits like cancer or substance use treatment and maternity care.
“Outrageously, insurance companies can charge high premiums and even deny coverage altogether for those with pre-existing conditions under these plans. If you’re a Coloradoan who is among the one in four Americans who has a pre-existing condition, today’s news is especially bad: these skimpy plans will once again allow insurers to discriminate against you or leave you paying even higher premiums in the individual market.”
“With these inadequate plans, insurers will try to cherry-pick healthier individuals with these junk plans, siphoning them from the real insurance plans. This will increase costs for everyone else.”
“The Trump Administration and its Republican allies are once again choosing sabotage over the well-being of Colorado families. Enough is enough: it’s time to end the partisan war on our health care. The Administration should stop hurting people with pre-existing conditions, stop pushing skimpy, sham plans, and stop driving up costs up for Coloradans.”
Protect Our Care Colorado is a coalition of 48 organizations in Colorado advocating to protect the health care of Coloradans. To learn more about the coalition, visit ProtectOurCareCo.org.
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