DNC Chair, Wis AG, Wisconsinite Blast Trump’s Continued Attack on Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions Print
Elections, Elected Officials, Political Parties
Written by WisDems Press, Philip Shulman   
Friday, 08 May 2020 15:01

trumpcare20 million Americans could lose their health care coverage and as many as 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions would be in danger of facing increased insurance costs if Trump gets his way to overturn ACA.


MADISON, WI -- Wednesday on a video press conference, DNC Chair Tom Perez, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, and Wisconsinite Noah Reif, who has type 1 diabetes, blasted Trump’s continuing attacks on protections for people with pre-existing conditions. This event comes on the back of Democrats and their allies filing arguments with the Supreme Court in defense of the ACA. 

The case, California v. Texas, has been buttressed by Trump and his Department of Justice in his latest attempts to overturn the law. If Trump is successful in striking down the ACA, at least 20 million Americans could lose their health care coverage and as many as 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions would be in danger of facing increased insurance costs or being potentially kicked off their coverage all together. Furthermore, striking down the Affordable Care Act amid the coronavirus pandemic could jeopardize the coverage of millions of Americans who would be effectively uninsurable without protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

See below for excerpts from the event or click here to watch the press conference.

josh-kaulWisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul: “Today is a really significant day. One of the leaders of the lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act had been my predecessor, Brad Schimel. Ultimately, the people of Wisconsin weighed in on this issue...and they elected Governor Evers and me….Wisconsin is no longer part of that challenge to the Affordable Care Act. It’s a suit that should not succeed and no state should be a part of. If this suit is successful, millions of Americans will lose access to health insurance coverage. We need more resources for our medical system, and it’s one of the reasons why expanding Medicaid now is critical for the state of Wisconsin. Frankly, I think it’s very troubling that this suit is going forward during a pandemic.” 

DNC Chair Tom Perez: “We know from the research that states that have expanded Medicaid see better health outcomes... But the President and Republicans across the country are on a mission to undo the heart and soul of health care for millions of Americans. It is tough enough right now in a pandemic to make ends meet. There is so much fear. And when we put the Affordable Care Act at risk for the tens of millions of people with pre-existing conditions…that’s unconscionable. That’s why Democrats are continuing to fight for the Affordable Care Act, continuing to fight to expand Medicaid...We believe that health care is a right for all and not a privilege for the few.” 

Wisconsinite with pre-existing condition Noah Reif: “For me this really hits home. Like millions of others of Americans I am immuno-compromised. Like too many other people in this country with Type 1 (diabetes), I know what it’s like to ration insulin…now we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, and health care coverage for people like me is more important than ever. It is unacceptable that President Trump would continue to push to overturn the Affordable Care Act. No matter where we live, no matter how much money we have in our wallet, that also applies to people with pre-existing conditions as we try to navigate this really challenging time. We should not have to live in fear because it ticks the box of someone trying to get reelected. Now more than ever we can’t afford to lose these protections that keep us safe."

Last Updated on Sunday, 10 May 2020 07:24