U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss) today cosponsored the Ensuring Coverage for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions Act (S.3388) to protect equal health care coverage for Americans, regardless of their health status or pre-existing conditions.
The legislation, introduced by Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), would prohibit discrimination by health insurers against consumers based on health status, including protection against increased premiums due to pre-existing conditions.
“Everyone understands that penalizing people for pre-existing condition is unfair. I don’t know many people without pre-existing conditions. This legislation underscores the fact that regardless of the details on how a Republican-led Obamacare replacement package is written, coverage for Mississippians with pre-existing conditions will be protected,” Hyde-Smith said.
“Obamacare is not working for Mississippians, who have had fewer choices and higher costs since that bill was passed,” she said. “I’m committed to working toward a solution that ensures that any future legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare preserves important protections for Mississippians with pre-existing conditions, while also expanding options and lowering healthcare costs for Mississippi families.
S.3388 was offered in response to Texas v. United States, a case before the federal courts related to the repeal of Obamacare provisions, which could affect protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.
The legislation would amend the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to guarantee the availability of coverage in the individual or group market for all Americans, including those with pre-existing conditions, regardless of the outcome in Texas v. United States.
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith Press Release
11/14/2018
Sarah Ulmer
