[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COVERAGE FOR PREEXISTING CONDITIONS

  (Mr. CICILLINE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the Affordable Care Act improved access 
to quality healthcare for millions of Americans. One of the most 
important protections in this law is that insurance companies can no 
longer deny people coverage because they have a preexisting condition.
  Millions of Americans with arthritis, cancer, diabetes, mental 
illness, and other preexisting conditions have benefited from this 
requirement. And that is why it is so disturbing that earlier this 
month the Trump administration went to court to argue that insurance 
companies should no longer have to cover people with preexisting 
conditions.
  If they succeed, it will further unravel the Affordable Care Act. It 
will be harder for individuals and small businesses to buy health 
insurance. Some experts believe that there will be even more Americans 
without health coverage than ever before. This is wrong. The President 
is putting the interests of health insurance companies and health 
insurance company CEOs ahead of American consumers.
  Republicans in Congress should be demanding that this President stop. 
They should demand that their constituents have access to the best 
healthcare possible, but, instead, they are silent in the face of a 
President trying to take away coverage for preexisting medical 
conditions.
  It is wrong. We can do better.

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