Washington DC — Ahead of tonight’s Senate debate between Kevin Cramer and health care champion Heidi Heitkamp, Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:
“Facing mounting pressure from North Dakota voters demanding protections for pre-existing conditions, Kevin Cramer has done a 180 on health care issues in recent weeks. Kevin Cramer joins a long list of Republicans who are collecting pinocchios for flat-out lying about protecting people with pre-existing conditions from discrimination by insurance companies. Today, the very same day Mitch McConnell has admitted that the Senate’s goal will be repeal if folks like Kevin Cramer win in November, will Kevin Cramer finally tell the people of North Dakota the truth? I wouldn’t bet on it.”
The Truth About Kevin Cramer’s Record:
Rep. Kevin Cramer Voted Multiple Time to Eliminate Protections for People with Pre-existing conditions.
- 2013: Cramer Voted For A Total Repeal Of The ACA. Cramer voted for HR 45, an act “to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.” [HR 45, Roll Call Vote #154, 5/16/13]
- 2015: Cramer Voted For A Total Repeal Of The ACA. Cramer voted for HR 596, an act “to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.” The bill also ordered House committees to develop a replacement that would “provide people with pre-existing conditions access to affordable health coverage,” but provided no specifics. [HR 596, Roll Call Vote #58, 2/3/15]
- In fact, Cramer’s own campaign website acknowledged his vote would “repeal the affordable care act in its entirety.” “Today Congressman Kevin Cramer voted with the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act in its entirety.” [Cramer Website, 2/3/15]
Why The Truth Matters:
- Roughly 275,000 North Dakotans Live With A Pre-Existing Condition. [CAP, 4/5/17]
- Women no longer charged more than men. Because of the ACA, insurers can no longer charge women more than men for the same care.
- Ended annual and lifetime limits. Because of the ACA, insurers can no longer put annual or lifetime limits on the care you receive.
- Young adults can stay on their parent’s plan until age 26. Because of the ACA, roughly 7,000 young adults in North Dakota have coverage because they can stay on their parent’s coverage until age 26.
- Allowed states to expand Medicaid. Because of the ACA, states can get additional federal money to expand Medicaid. 18,000 North Dakotans have gained coverage because of this program.