WISCONSIN – Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) joined his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives voting to pass legislation that eliminates guaranteed protections for pre-existing conditions. The Association Health Plans Act, Self Insurance Protection Act, and CHOICE Arrangement Act also allow employers and insurance companies to take away coverage for hospital stays and prescription drugs. These bills would exacerbate racial and ethnic inequities in health care and only reward the highest-income workers. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to fight to help the big drug and insurance companies while raising costs and taking away coverage from middle-class Americans.
In response, Protect Our Care Wisconsin State Director Joe Zepecki issued the following statement:
“Time and time again, Republicans like Rep. Derrick Van Orden have chosen not to protect health care for working people. Instead, they want to allow the insurance companies to run the show, decide who gets coverage, and rip away protections from Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions like asthma and diabetes. If they got their way, some insurance companies would no longer have to cover hospital visits and prescription drug costs. These atrocious bills would only force more families to gamble with their health care, putting them at serious risk of having to choose between medical care and putting food on the table or keeping a roof over their heads.”
