[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6635-S6636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Affordable Care Act

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 20 
million Americans have health insurance, including more than 1 million 
in my State of Illinois. Why is it so important? Let me tell you the 
story of Stefanie from Oak Park, IL. Recently, Stefanie wrote about her 
son, who has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues. 
Because of the Affordable Care Act, her son will be able to stay on her 
health insurance plan until he reaches the age of 26.
  The Affordable Care Act also required that all health plans cover 
mental health and addiction treatment. It is hard to imagine that 
people were selling health insurance in America that did not cover 
mental health and addiction.
  Two Senators on the floor of the Senate--Paul Wellstone, who stood 
right over there, and Pete Domenici, who stood there--teamed up to 
require that every health insurance plan in America cover mental 
illness. It is so obvious. It is an issue many families face. But 
health insurance plans were excluding it. Why did these two Senators 
who were wildly different politically decide they would team up for 
this? Paul

[[Page S6636]]

Wellstone had a brother and Senator Domenici had a son who were 
struggling with mental illness, and they didn't have protection in 
their health insurance, so the Senators fought to include it.
  Thank goodness they did. Because of that health law, insurance 
companies cannot discriminate against Stefanie's son because of his 
medical history. Her son just graduated college. She is thankful he can 
stay on her company's policy until he gets a job, and she is thankful 
her premiums are not higher due to her son's health needs. Stefanie is 
afraid that if these protections go away because of a court case that 
is currently pending or the actions of the Republican majority in this 
Senate, her son will be uninsurable or face enormous medical bills that 
he will be unable to pay. Stefanie wrote to me, and she said that if 
the Affordable Care Act were to be eliminated, they are ``contemplating 
leaving this country to seek manageable health care.''
  Democrats are fighting to keep healthcare protections for people like 
Stefanie and her son. Because of the Affordable Care Act, people with 
preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged 
higher premiums. Is there anyone among us who doesn't know someone with 
a preexisting condition? I have one. This protects 5 million people in 
Illinois who have a preexisting condition.
  Insurance companies are no longer allowed to impose annual or 
lifetime caps on benefits or to deny coverage for mental health, 
substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs, or hospitalizations, and 
young people are allowed to stay on their parents' plan until they 
reach age 26.
  Despite the Republican and Trump administration's continued efforts 
to repeal these protections both in Congress and in the courts, health 
insurance under the Affordable Care Act is open for business. If you 
are interested and want to know the policies available, healthcare.gov 
is the website to visit.
  Open enrollment for 2020 health plans began on November 1 and ends on 
December 15. If you can, sign up. It is a protection that you hope you 
will never need, but if you need it, it is good to have it.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.