Harkin: Repeal Would Deny Coverage to Millions of Americans with Preexisting Conditions

WASHINGTON – Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services released a new report showing that, without the Affordable Care Act, up to 129 million Americans under the age of 65 who have a pre-existing health condition would be at risk of losing health insurance when they need it most, or be denied coverage:  

“The report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services reconfirms the vital importance of the Affordable Care Act’s broad consumer protections.  The Department’s analysis shows that up to 129 million Americans under the age of 65 have a preexisting condition, and millions more are likely to develop such a condition in the next eight years.  If Congressional Republicans had their way, these Americans would face denial or restriction of health benefits.  This report makes clear that we can’t afford to deprive half of Americans under the age of 65 of this vital protection.”

The HHS report comes on the same day of a new Associated Press-GfK poll that shows opposition to the Affordable Care Act diminishing among Americans.  

Last week, Harkin announced that the HELP Committee will hold a series of hearings to examine how the Affordable Care Act is benefiting Americans.  The first hearing will be held on January 27.