WisDems: Experts agree: Walker’s phony health care plan would gut protections for Wisconsinites w/ pre-existing conditions

For the last week, Scott Walker has been flailing to defend his long record of undermining protections for people with pre-existing conditions. No matter how hard he tries, he can’t take back his many attacks on the Affordable Care Act. And he has refused to respond to Tony Evers’ challenge to drop Wisconsin from the lawsuit that would eliminate the ACA and its protects for pre-existing conditions.

Now, Walker claims he has a plan to keep those protections, but unfortunately for him, health care experts are calling him out on his empty promises.

From WPR: Experts: State Bill On Pre-Existing Conditions Falls Short Of ACA Protections

Health care experts say a state bill being touted by Gov. Scott Walker as a way to insure people with pre-existing conditions would fall well short of the protections provided in the federal Affordable Care Act Walker is trying to overturn.

…But experts say such a state protection is unlikely to work without the other safeguards provided right now by the federal law known as Obamacare.

“It’s like trying to replace a dam in a river with a couple of rocks,” said Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, D.C. “The bad behavior will just kind of go around the barrier that you put up.”

And here’s more analysis from WDJT’s story:

The lawsuit was brought by a group of Republican attorney generals, including Wisconsin’s Brad Schimel. Walker says if it succeeds, he will find another way to protect pre-existing conditions.

…Marquette Professor Philip Rocco wrote the book “Obamacare Wars,” and says winning the lawsuit would be problematic for Walker. “It’s a bit like putting a gun to your own head.”

Rocco says to keep things the same, state’s would have to spend tax dollars themselves on pre-existing conditions because federal subsidies would be gone.

Walker’s “plan” is likely more expensive for states, and would still gut protections. Talk about a lose-lose situation.

“Experts agree: Scott Walker has no credibility on health care,” said DPW spokesperson Alex Japko. “Walker’s long record of attacking protections for pre-existing conditions isn’t going away and his phony plan isn’t helping his case. Wisconsin families deserve a governor who will protect their health care, not sabotage it.”