GOP Plan Would Let Insurance Companies Price Gouge Arizonans With A Pre-Existing Condition
The plan also fails to require insurance companies to cover Essential Health Benefits, including emergency room and prescription drug coverage Sens. Mesnard and Leach Admit Bill Fails To Secure Full Coverage Protections By “Design."
PHOENIX — Wednesday, Senate Republicans passed SB1397, a watered-down pre-existing conditions bill, out of committee. SB1397 is a last-ditch effort to address the concerns of the 2.8 million Arizonans who have preexisting conditions. Per the Senate Republicans’ fact-sheet, this bill would not go into effect unless their party and Attorney General Mark Brnovich is successful at the repeal of the ACA – an admission that they see Republicans’ desired outcome in the lawsuit as a disaster for Arizonans.
Far from securing existing health insurance coverage protections, the GOP plan would allow predatory insurance companies to jack up prices on people with pre-existing health conditions, and it wouldn’t require insurance companies to cover the 10 essential benefits covered under the ACA, including maternity, emergency room, and prescription drug coverage
At a committee meeting yesterday, Republican sponsors Sens. Mesnard and Leach admitted that it is by “design.” Sen. Vince Leach stated “This is no ACA, and was not designed to be a replacement for the ACA. [...] Adding that he didn’t want the bill to become a “pseudo-ACA.”
“Republicans are admitting that their lawsuit will end pre-existing condition coverage protections for nearly 2.8 million Arizonans and are pushing through a bill that will leave Arizonans exposed to price gouging, predatory insurance companies,” said Murphy Bannerman Arizona DLCC Communications Director
Democrats have introduced SB1599 which would cover preexisting conditions, prevent insurance companies from price gouging, and would require insurance companies to cover the 10 essential benefits covered under the ACA, including maternity, emergency room, and prescription drug coverage
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