RECAP: Leah Vukmir tried to hide that she would vote to gut health care protections for the 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions.
THE TRUTH: Leah Vukmir backs multiple efforts to gut protections for pre-existing conditions and would allow insurance companies to deny Wisconsinites coverage:
- Leah Vukmir backs a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, including the pre-existing condition protection barring insurance companies from charging more or denying coverage.
- Leah Vukmir supported the Graham-Cassidy and AHCA repeal plans that would gut pre-existing condition protections and allow insurance companies to price sick people out of their plans.
- Leah Vukmir supports the “junk plans” that allow insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
BACKGROUND:
Vukmir Backs A Full Repeal Of The Affordable Care Act
Wisconsin State Journal: “Obamacare Barred Insurers From Denying Coverage Or Charging More To People With Pre-Existing Health Conditions.” “Obamacare barred insurers from denying coverage or charging more to people with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or cancer.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/27/2018]
Fox 6 Now: “Vukmir Says She’s Still Not Encouraged By The Affordable Care Act – And Wants The Legislation Repealed.” “State Senator Leah Vukmir says she’s still not encouraged by the Affordable Care Act – and wants the legislation repealed. ‘This is very, something that many of us, in the Republican party, have seen for a long time,’ said Vukmir. ‘But now we’re starting, the people are feeling it, and this is the point at which we need to rise-up, talk to the Congressional leaders so that we can get this fixed.’” [Fox 6 Now, WITI, 11/15/2013]
Vukmir Campaigned On Fully Repealing Obamacare. “Leah understands why people are upset with Republicans who promised to repeal Obamacare and didn’t deliver. She supports full repeal of Obamacare. Period. And she won’t stop pushing for full repeal in Congress.” [Leah Vukmir, U.S. Senate Campaign Website, Accessed 09/07/2017]
Wisconsin State Journal: “Vukmir Wants To Repeal Obamacare.” “Vukmir, a nurse practitioner, favors what she calls a ‘free-market’ approach to health care that would deregulate the industry and return more health-care decision-making to states. Vukmir wants to repeal Obamacare and restore much of what it replaced, such as Wisconsin’s high-risk coverage pool for people with pre-existing health conditions.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/27/2018]
Vukmir Supported The Graham-Cassidy Repeal Measure And American Health Care Act, Which Rolled Back Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions
Vox: “The New Republican Plan To Repeal Obamacare Would Bring Preexisting Conditions Back To The Individual Market, Allowing Insurers To […] Deny Them Coverage Outright.” “The new Republican plan to repeal Obamacare would bring preexisting conditions back to the individual market, allowing insurers to charge sick people higher premiums — or deny them coverage outright.” [Vox, 09/18/2017]
Wisconsin State Journal: “Vukmir Has Supported Various Obamacare Repeal Proposals Offered By Republicans In Congress.” “Vukmir has supported various Obamacare repeal proposals offered by Republicans in Congress. She said she supported the Graham-Cassidy repeal measure debated in the Senate last year, and praised the American Health Care Act, the repeal bill that passed the U.S. House last year.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/27/2018]
Vukmir Supported “Junk Plans” Which Allow Insurance Companies To “Deny Customers Coverage […] If They Have A Pre-Existing Medical Condition”
National Public Radio: “Insurance Companies Can Deny Customers Coverage On These Plans If They Have A Pre-Existing Medical Condition.” “Short-term plans don’t have to meet the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protection and coverage requirements, so many will not cover services such as mental health care or prescription drugs. And insurance companies can deny customers coverage on these plans if they have a pre-existing medical condition and charge people more if they are likely to need medical care.” [National Public Radio, 08/01/2018]
Wisconsin State Journal: “Vukmir Supports Rules […] That Aim To Chip Away At Obamacare By Permitting Certain Types Of Health Plans That Don’t Meet The Law’s Requirements.” “Vukmir supports rules recently issued by the Trump administration that aim to chip away at Obamacare by permitting certain types of health plans that don’t meet the law’s requirements.” [Wisconsin State Journal, 08/27/2018]
