“The Biggest Healthcare News of the Year” Will Affect Citizens with Pre-Existing Conditions
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Andy Slavitt, the former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, reports that the Trump DOJ intends to dismantle pre-existing conditions protections, as well as other consumer protections. Slavitt refers to the actions as “unprecedented” and goes on to reveal how they will negatively affect Americans.
BREAKING: The biggest health care news of the year.
The Trump DOJ tonight just told the courts to dismantle pre-existing conditions protections and other consumer protections.
This may seem predictable, but these actions are unprecedented.
More coming. Follow if interested.
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) June 8, 2018
So, what does this mean for the general public’s healthcare? Basically, if a citizen has a pre-existing condition, insurance companies could reject them, charge them more, raise the rate once they’re enrolled, or even refuse to pay or cover for essential healthcare and benefits that treat a pre-existing condition.
Slavitt was in charge of Medicare and Medicaid during President Obama’s administration, and he calls Trump’s efforts “the biggest health care news of the year.” He goes on to reveal that the act will not go into effect until after the election, so as to not ruin any chances of a Republican Congress.
This collusion between the conservative plaintiffs and the “defense” would make pre-ex protections and age rating protections unconstitutional.
In an active of savage cynicism, the Trump Administration doesn’t want this to go into effect until after the election. 3/
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) June 8, 2018
In a stream of tweets, Slavitt explains everything he knows so the public is informed, even pausing to call experts mid-thread. He blames Trump’s actions on a “desire to turn back the ACA and hurt the millions who benefit from it,” as well as an “unprecedented move by the Justice Dept. not to defend the rule of law in a frivolous case.” This move by the Trump administration is a direct attack on the Affordable Care Act that Obama enacted in 2010. The ACA explicitly states, “no insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started.” It goes on to state, “once you’re enrolled, the plan can’t deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.”
Slavitt notes that the state governments now have to step in, saying:
So what happens now: it is up to other states (who filed tonight) to do what the Federal government wouldn’t— and argue on behalf of the public. 8/
— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) June 8, 2018
Slavitt predicts the changes will be presented in court as early at 2019, but possibly 2020. He ends with a call to action for the public, the government, the Democratic Senators and even the press. Basically, it’s all hands on deck for this one.
More important than ever…
-A loud public outcry
-Educate the public what could happen after the election
-Support for states preventing this
-A Dem Senate for the USOC
-A press and an electorate that makes every R who voted to eliminate the mandate account for this 12/— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) June 8, 2018
Slavitt’s report ends by stating, “people who care about public health don’t do this. People who care about the rule of law don’t do this.” He warns everyone involved that they may regret their actions when they face the electorate before stating, “I’m not going anywhere.”