Health Reform: What Repeal Would Mean to America

April 28, 2010

One key provision in health reform legislation would end the practice of an insurance company canceling someone′s coverage when they get sick – known as "rescission."  Last week, Reuters reported that WellPoint had been targeting breast cancer patients for rescission.  Health reform included a ban on rescissions, but Repeal Republicans are still pursuing their radical appeals to the extreme right wing by threatening to repeal this critical consumer protection.

Yesterday, House Democratic leaders sent a letter to the nation′s largest insurance companies <http://tinyurl.com/DemRescissionLetter> , asking them to end the practice of rescission ahead of health reform taking effect, and institute a third-party review of any proposed policy cancellations due to fraud or intentional misrepresentation.  In response, both WellPoint and UnitedHealthcare, two of the country′s largest insurers, have announced that they are ending their rescission policies. (See stories on WellPoint <http://tinyurl.com/WellPointStory>  and UnitedHealthCare <http://tinyurl.com/UnitedHealthCareRecission> )

Despite this news that will give tens of millions of Americans more security in their health coverage, House Republicans are not backing down from their calls for repeal.  House Republican Leader John Boehner called repeal the Republicans′ "number one priority <http://tinyurl.com/NumberOnePriority> ."  Democrats have been aggressively highlighting the damage repeal of health reform would inflict on middle class families and small businesses.

Last week, Democrats called out Repeal Repubs for wanting to get rid of the "Age 26" provision <http://tinyurl.com/Age26Release>  in reform and tax credits for small businesses <http://tinyurl.com/WMSmallBusinesses> . Today, top House Democrats are asking, with health insurers working to implement important consumer protections ahead of schedule, why are Repeal Repubs putting their own political ambitions ahead of peoples’ health care security.  

Rep. George Miller, Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee (CA-07): "Repeal Republicans face a simple, moral choice. They can either stick to their radical and dangerous vow to strip reforms and pull the rug out from patients while they’re in the middle of treatment – or they can do the right thing for millions of Americans by joining Democrats in urging insurance companies to implement vital health reform benefits right away. "

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Assistant to the Speaker (MD-08): "Consumers are once again the big winners with the announcement that major health insurance providers will stop the unfair practice of rescissions in advance of the new health care law taking effect.  This development is yet another reminder of the immediate  benefits Americans are seeing from this landmark legislation.   However, if Congressional Republican leaders have their way and repeal health care, we will go back to allowing these types of anti-consumer practices, where breast cancer patients and others are denied the coverage they deserve and the coverage they paid for. "

Rep. Pete Stark, Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee (CA-13): "Republicans are quickly isolating themselves in their continued calls to repeal health reform.  Even the insurance industry appears to be changing its tune now that health reform is the law of the land.  Insurers that pioneered rescission abuses are voluntarily halting that practice ahead of schedule."

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee (NJ-06): "The Republicans have a clear track record on health reform so no one should be surprised when they again side with big insurance and against everyday people. They did nothing to reform health care when they controlled Congress, they opposed the reforms that included the provision that prevents them from canceling coverage when policy holders get sick and now they want to repeal the ban. They have become the ′Repeal Republicans′ who want to repeal all the popular  reforms that will help nearly everyone, including these breast cancer patients. If the Republicans get their way and repeal the reforms, these patients and everyone else will be prone again to the abuses of the insurance industry."

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03): "One of the most appalling insurance industry practices is eliminating a person’s coverage once they are diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition, be it breast cancer or Parkinson’s Disease. The legislation Democrats passed in March, and the public outcry over exposed insurance industry abuses, has forced insurance companies like Wellpoint to stop these immoral practices before they are required to do so. If Republicans think it’s acceptable to tell a woman diagnosed with breast cancer that she is no longer covered, then they should continue down the dangerous path of repealing the bill. For the rest of us, we will keep fighting to protect Americans from industry abuses and provide them with the health care they deserve."

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03): "I am enormously pleased to see Wellpoint acting to end the unfair practices of rescission and implementing the required reforms early. While this decision will not help the women whose coverage was terminated, as they may have lost critical time in their fights against breast cancer, it will benefit countless women in the future who will be diagnosed with this disease.  This is a great step towards ending rescissions is a direct result of Congress′s landmark Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and I hope other health insurers will immediately follow suit, as we have seen many companies act early to extend dependent coverage to young adults under 26."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-20): "Last week we found out that health insurance companies were intentionally trying to cancel women′s policies if they were diagnosed with breast cancer.  The new health reform law we passed makes this illegal, protecting women from this blatant attempt to place profits above women′s lives.  But America′s women be warned, Republicans are campaigning on repealing these protections for women, they want to go back to a system that allows insurance companies to use every trick in the book to try to rescind your policy if you get too sick."

Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA-06): "Targeting those who suffer from a serious illness for rescission was one of the worst abuses practiced by health insurance companies and illustrates why the health care reform legislation was so badly needed.  Repealing the health care reform bill, as Republicans are demanding, would allow insurers to return to this heinous practice."

Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11): "It′s cynical and cruel when insurance companies take away coverage from the people who need it most, those are the patients who are diagnosed with serious illnesses such as cancer.  This is one of the major reasons health care reform is so desperately needed in our nation.  The majority of people in my district don′t want to go backwards.  They want this type of practice to end."

Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-21): "The fact that Republicans are still moving forward with talk of repealing health care reform shows their disregard for America′s middle class.  Repeal means Republicans endorse a return to abusive policies -- such as cancelling people′s health care coverage when they get sick -- even women who have breast cancer. Our working families deserve a better outcome."

Rep. Tim Bishop (NY-01): "Health reform has guaranteed that Americans will have coverage when they get sick and need it. Who could support a return to the days of rescissions, denials of coverage, and discrimination against those with pre-existing conditions?"

Rep. Dina Titus (NV-03): "For too long, Americans with serious health conditions had to live with the fear that one day their insurance company would drop their coverage for no reason other than to protect the bottom line.  Thanks to our efforts to reform health care, we are ending this despicable practice and provided security and peace of mind for America′s families.  Unfortunately, by calling for the repeal of this legislation, Republicans want to put insurance companies back in control and once again leave the American people vulnerable at a time when they need their health coverage the most."

Rep. David Wu (OR-01): "For years, hard-working American families have paid ever-growing sums for health insurance, only to find that their coverage is yanked away when they get sick.  While Democrats are calling on insurance companies to end rescission ahead of schedule, Republicans are clamoring for repeal that would once again leave families helpless against this devious practice.  We must continue to stand up for what is best for the American people, not big insurance businesses."

Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-03): "Republicans in Congress are supporting a provision that allows insurance companies to kick Americans off their policies when they get sick. I remember when the centerpiece of the Republican agenda was a ‘contract with America.’ Now, it’s a ‘breach of contract for Americans.’"