Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Press Release

Gov. Walker Must Support Covering Wisconsinites With Pre-Existing Conditions

"The Governor should decline a waiver exempting insurance companies from prohibitions that help individuals with pre-existing conditions get the care they need."

By - May 5th, 2017 03:31 pm

MADISON – House GOP members passed legislation on Thursday to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Part of the bill allows states to seek waivers exempting insurers from a prohibition on issuing higher premiums for people with pre-existing conditions. Today, Gov. Scott Walker told the Associated Press that he would consider allowing insurance companies to raise premiums on some of the most vulnerable people in the state.

Immediately after the bill’s passage, Gov. Walker applauded House Republicans in a series of tweets for a passing a bill that could kick up to 24 million Americans off of their health care insurance over the next decade.

Gov. Walker Tweets.

Gov. Walker Tweets.

A major concern of the AHCA is how it rolls back important protections for people with pre-existing conditions, which could increase health care costs for millions of Americans. Insurers still cannot deny coverage outright, but they can hike up premiums to an unaffordable amount – effectively pricing people out of the market. Gov. Walker and Speaker Ryan both look to high-risk pools as an alternative to simply prohibiting insurance companies from raising costs or denying coverage, but even Wisconsin’s high-risk pools left out roughly a half million people uninsured.

“The Governor has to know how important it is for people with pre-existing conditions to receive health care coverage and with such broad language defining pre-existing conditions in the AHCA it would be an act of cruelty to allow them to be priced out of their health insurance,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman Brandon Weathersby said on Friday. “The Governor should decline a waiver exempting insurance companies from prohibitions that help individuals with pre-existing conditions get the care they need.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.

Mentioned in This Press Release

12 thoughts on “Gov. Walker Must Support Covering Wisconsinites With Pre-Existing Conditions”

  1. myfivecents says:

    The only thing Walker cares about is making money for the insurance companies. He’s already chomping at the bit to raise premiums on people with pre-existing conditions. I do not call that looking out for the people. He’s only looking out for big business at the expense of the people. Somehow it is more important for them to make money than for people to have healthcare. Having access to healthcare is not the same as actually having healthcare. If you cannot afford the premium increases, then you can’t afford it and won’t have it. It’s as simple as that. If you neglect to pay your rent, make your house payment, or buy your prescriptions in lieu of paying for health insurance then all you have is health insurance with no place to live and the necessary medicine that helps to keep you healthy. What kind of choice is that and how is that looking out for the people. It isn’t.

  2. Jason says:

    Were on the road to government(control) run health care, the same pin heads that run most of our schools, and tell our employers how much to pay our employees will now own our health care. Liberals rejoice the meaning of care will now be decided by government. Prepare for the day when you bring your bed sheets and toiletries to the hospital.

  3. Vincent Hanna says:

    And don’t forget the death panels Jason. When is your appointment? Good luck.

  4. A Bus Driver says:

    What is it about these stupid ass Repuglican politicians that they can justify making it so people have to choose between having healthcare insurance & or having a place to live,or feeding your family basically just being able to live? I think they’re just Satan’s disciples. Yet they think they are entitled to it.

  5. Jeff w. says:

    Jason is either one of the 1% or he has swallowed the GOP koi-aid. Everyone knows walker will opt out of covering pre-existing conditions. He is heartless AND clueless unless it involves funneling money to people who don’t need it. The greater good isn’t a part of his vocabulary

  6. JK says:

    We need the Senate’s version of the Bill to remove the pre-existing waiver and high risk pool. It’s a terrible idea. Everyone has a pre-existing condition. People who were sick before should not be provided lesser healthcare than people who are newly sick. Where are the solutions for reducing the out-of-control healthcare provider and pharmaceutical costs…rather than finding “creative” ways to pass off the obscene costs to the states?

  7. A Bus Driver says:

    @JK you are right. EVERYONE has a pre-existing condition it’s called you are alive remember folks until you were born you did not exist after your first breath anything after that could be considered “pre-existing”. Universal coverage (public option) is the only logical way to end this madness.

  8. Jason says:

    People should not be able to vote until there 27 years of age, why because that is the age that most millennials find out the true cost of health care. You can stay on mommies phone plan and have daddy help you with your rent but the government cuts you off at the knees at age 27. Though I suppose you can convince your parent to pay your individual health care plan now that you have been booted off the family plan. Welcome to the real world.

  9. Vincent Hanna says:

    Jason there’s such venom in that post (much like most of your posts). And it seems personal. Do you have a 27-year-old child living at home or something? You speak like you have firsthand knowledge of this, as opposed to hearing about it from Breitbart or Fox News. You always seem so angry and petty and small-minded and spiteful. It’s not a healthy way to live.

  10. A Bus Driver says:

    @Vincent Hanna, Jason is a troll. A bitter hateful one to boot. All his comments confirm this

  11. Jason says:

    Vince, I give the Democrats credit, they have created a system where no one knows the true cost of healthcare and then develop a rube Goldberg system where, Seniors citizens won’t pay their, fair share, and millennials are completely shielded from it. Let us just move to Medicaid for all and begin the misery.

  12. JPKMKE says:

    Assembly members from Milwaukee Bowen, Brostoff, Crowley, Goyke, Kessler, Riemer, Sinicki, Young, and Zepnick all voted nay today on the bill which bans insurance companies from excluding coverage for people with pre-existing conditions?

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