As President Trump prepares to deliver a speech tomorrow at HHS, there can be no doubt he will repeat the lie that he and other Republicans are defenders of pre-existing conditions protections for the 130 million Americans that depend on them for their health and economic security.
“President Trump and Republicans are gaslighting America, all because their deeply unpopular war on health care is totally at odds with what voters want,” said Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care. “Another day, another pack of lies from the GOP.”
Here’s the truth about how Trump has taken a sledgehammer to health care and pre-existing conditions protections, as well as some of the top Republicans aiding and abetting the president in his ongoing war on health care.
ONE: A Republican lawsuit could wipe out protections for people with pre-existing conditions virtually overnight.
Key players: Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions, indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley and Scott Walker’s Attorney General Brad Schimel.
TWO: Republicans have expanded junk plans that allow insurers to discriminate against pre-existing conditions and are expected to drive up the cost of care.
Key players: Current HHS Secretary and former drug executive Alex Azar, Montana Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale,
THREE: Republicans passed a repeal bill just last summer that would have let insurers go back to discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions.
Key players: Just about every Republican member of Congress, including Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Jim Renacci (R-OH), Lou Barletta (R-PA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Brian Mast (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Jason Lewis (R-MN), Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Troy Balderson (R-OH), John Culberson (R-TX), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Scott Taylor (R-VA), and David Brat (R-VA).
FOUR: Republicans still want to repeal health care.
Key players: Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Wisconsin state Senator Leah Vukmir, Pete Sessions (R-TX), Scott Perry (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Keith Rothfus (R-PA), Dave Brat (R-VA).
FIVE: Republicans keep raiding Medicaid, by the hundreds of billions of dollars, in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.
Key players: Trump’s economic chief Larry Kudlow, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and just about every Republican member of Congress that voted for tax breaks for the wealthiest.
SIX: Many Republicans are restricting access to Medicaid, preventing millions of Americans from receiving life-saving health care.
Key players: Trump’s CMS head Seema Verma, Trump’s Medicaid director Mary Mayhew, Florida Governor Rick Scott, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Maine Governor Paul LePage.