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Washington, DC – The Trump administration’s ongoing war on health care puts the entire LGBTQ community at risk. This Pride Month, it’s important to highlight the barriers to health care that LGBTQ Americans face every day and what’s at stake due to the GOP’s sabotage agenda. To highlight LGBTQ health care during Pride Month, Protect Our Care executive director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“Pride Month is an important time to recognize the many challenges gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans still face in receiving quality and affordable health care. With blatant attacks and discrimination from the Trump administration against trans people and same-sex parents, and their push to dismantle Medicaid through the Texas lawsuit, the GOP’s sabotage agenda would have devastating effects on the well-being and care of LGBTQ Americans across the country. During Pride Month, Americans should lift up and protect our nation’s most marginalized communities, work to ensure comprehensive coverage for LGBTQ medical needs, and continue working to defeat Trump and the Republican Party’s reckless assault on health care.”

Background:

MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY FACE DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE

The LGBTQ Community Faces Significant Barriers To Care. One study published in Health Affairs found that though the uninsured rate gap among members of the LGBTQ community has started to approach the uninsured rate among the non-LGBTQ community, “many continue to experience poorer access to high-quality care. Gay nonwhite men, bisexual white women, and bisexual and lesbian nonwhite women are disadvantaged in multiple aspects of access, compared to straight white men. Only some of these disparities are attributable to economic factors, which implies that noneconomic barriers to care are substantial.” [Health Affairs, October 2017]

Roughly One In Six LGBTQ People Say They Have Avoided Medical Care Due To Concern They Would Be Discriminated Against. “Overall, 18% of LGBTQ Americans say they have avoided going to a doctor or seeking health care out of concern that they would be discriminated against or treated poorly because of their LGBTQ identity.” [NPR, RWJF, & Harvard, November 2017]

Nearly A Quarter Of Transgender Americans Say They Have Avoided Doctors Or Health Care Out Of Fear Of Discrimination. In a survey conducted for NPR, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 22 percent of transgdender Americans report having avoided doctors or health care out of concern they would be discriminated against. Additionally, in the context of health care 10 percent of transgender people report being personally discrimiated against because they are transgender whem going to a doctor or health clinic. [NPR, RWJF, & Harvard, November 2017]

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GREENLIGHTING EVEN MORE DISCRIMINATION

Now, The Trump Administraion Wants To Erode Rules That Protect LGBTQ Patients From Discrimination In The Health Care System. In May 2019, the Trump administration proposed rule change that allows doctors, hospitals, and health care companies to refuse to provide services to LGBTQ people and patients who have had abortions. While the Affordable Care Act’s Section 1557 protected LGBTQ patients against discrimination based on sex (defined to include gender identity and sex stereotypes), the Trump administration’s proposed rollback of this section grants a license to discriminate. [CBS News, 5/24/19]

The Williams Institute At UCLA Estimates That This Rollback Would Leave 1.4 Million Transgender Adults And 150,000 Transgender Teens Without The Help Of The Federal Government In Situations Of Discrimination. “The original rule was adopted ‘in response to an overwhelming record of anti-transgender discrimination and barriers to health care and health coverage,’ said Jocelyn Samuels, the former director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights and the current head of the Williams Institute at UCLA, in a statement. ‘A reversal of these protections would be contrary to the law and, if adopted, would seriously endanger the health and wellbeing of an especially vulnerable population.’ The Williams Institute, a think tank on LGBTQ rights, said that this rollback would leave 1.4 million transgender adults and 150,000 transgender teens without the help of the federal government in situations of discrimination.” [The Atlantic, 5/24/19]

Trump’s Discrimination Rule Is Part Of A Broader Effort By The Trump Administration To Reverse Progress In LGBTQ+ Rights. “The potential new HHS rule is part of a broader effort by social conservatives in the Trump administration to change the language around LGBTQ people in official documents, regulations and the law to represent more traditional views on relationships and rights. This includes adding references to ‘marriage between man and woman’ and removing terms such as gender rights.” [Washington Post, 4/24/19]

AND REPUBLICANS’ RELENTLESS REPEAL AND SABOTAGE AGENDA THREATENS TO TAKE COVERAGE AWAY FROM MANY IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY

Republicans’ Tireless Attempts To Overturn And Repeal The Affordable Care Act Jeopardize LGBTQ Americans’ Coverage. “A new study by the Center for American Progress, or CAP, finds that 15 percent of LGBT Americans across all income ranges are uninsured in 2017, compared to 7 percent of non-LGBT Americans. The ACA is closing this gap for those who most need financial help to afford coverage. In 2013, before the ACA’s coverage reforms came into effect, 1 in 3 LGBT people making less than $45,000 per year (34 percent) were uninsured. Just one year later, in 2014, uninsurance for this group had dropped by one-quarter to 1 in 4 (26 percent), and by 2017, CAP’s study finds that it was around 1 in 5 (22 percent). Conservative proposals to repeal and replace the ACA—such as the American Health Care Act, or AHCA—would undo these gains and hurt LGBT people, their families, and their neighbors.” [Center for American Progress, 3/22/17]

The Trump Administration Has Also Pushed Junk Plans, Which Are Exempt From Key Non-Discrimination Protections. “The Trump administration has sought to widen the availability of plans that may be exempt from key protections, including non-discrimination protections related to SOGI. Short-term limited duration (STLD) and association health plans in particular have been targeted as vehicles for this expansion.” [Kaiser Family Foundation, May 2018]

The newest Republican talking point – from President Trump to Leaders McCarthy and McConnell to the RNC – that Democrats aren’t getting anything done on issues important to people…is a lie.

The reality is Democrats are setting a record-pace for actions to reduce health care costs, protect health care for pre-existing conditions and take on the big drug companies to curb the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs.  

• In the last four months, Democrats have passed the “Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019” and the “Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act,” despite near unanimous Republican opposition.
• House Democrats have joined the fight against Trump’s Texas lawsuit that would eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act. Republicans refused to join them.
• Democrats have held more than fifteen hearings on affordability and quality of care, and passed several bills to improve care and ensure protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.  

And they’re just getting started.

The problem is Republicans are blocking any reforms and keep pushing a repeal and sabotage agenda which analysts say will raise premiums, raise drug costs and gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

• The Trump administration and Republicans have gone to court in Texas to strike down our health care laws – gutting protections for people with pre-existing conditions and raising costs on millions of Americans.
• Trump has promised to repeal health care and repeatedly attacks the late Senator John McCain for voting against his repeal agenda.
• McConnell has become the grim reaper of the U. S. Senate and refuses to vote on any of the reforms that would lower drug prices or lower health care costs.  

See the comparison for yourself…

View the full side by side comparison here

Washington DC — Today, Utah Governor Gary Herbert introduced a proposal to drastically ration health care for Utahns enrolled in Medicaid. This follows Utah Republicans’ vote earlier this year to overturn a ballot measure voters approved in November to expand Medicaid. In response to Utah Republicans’ actions to further undermine Medicaid expansion, Protect Our Care chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“By proposing to ration health care for large numbers of Utahns, Republicans are once again defying the will of voters who overwhelmingly approved Medicaid expansion in November. Unfortunately, the governor’s proposal to roll back the program is no surprise, and is just the latest part of the war on Medicaid led by President Trump, CMS Administrator Verma and their allies in Congress. It’s time for Republicans to stop undermining Medicaid and sabotaging our health care laws and start lowering costs and protecting the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.”

Washington, DC – In a Reuters article released today, President Trump’s 2020 campaign claimed that they have “taken back” the issue of health care from Democrats in advance of 2020, and that they will be touting reforms they’ve made to make health care better. Brad Woodhouse, executive of Protect Our Care, issued the following statement in response:

“President Trump and his campaign’s belief that they can take the issue of health care back from Democrats is just plain delusional, and the American people know better. It’s clear that health care is the most important issue for Americans, and that Americans overwhelmingly agree that President Trump is waging a war on their health care. If the Trump campaign thinks its a genius idea to frame the promotion of junk plans and stripping millions of their coverage through the Texas lawsuit as a winning issue, while Democrats continue to work to lower costs and provide better care, be my guest.”

The “Connecticut Option” Takes Bold Steps to Lower the Cost of Health Insurance and Reduce the Cost of Prescription Drugs for Families and Small Businesses

Washington, DC – Today, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, along with Comptroller Kevin Lembo and legislative leaders put forward the “Connecticut Option,” a health care proposal that will give individuals and small businesses the chance to buy high quality health care with lower premiums and lower costs across the individual market. Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, issued the following statement in response:

“The Connecticut Option is a major step forward for Connecticut, and should serve as a model for every state that wants to improve health care. This proposal will lower premiums and increase financial assistance to give Connecticut residents more affordable options and high quality coverage. It will also restore Medicaid to thousands who lost access to the program in recent years. Every American deserves quality and affordable health care, and under the leadership of Governor Lamont, Comptroller Lembo, and the state legislature, the Connecticut Option will make that possible.”

The “Connecticut Option” Takes Bold Steps to Lower the Cost of Health Insurance and Reduce the Cost of Prescription Drugs for Families and Small Businesses

Washington, DC – Today, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, along with Comptroller Kevin Lembo and legislative leaders put forward the “Connecticut Option,” a health care proposal that will give individuals and small businesses the chance to buy high quality health care with lower premiums and lower costs across the individual market. Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, issued the following statement in response:

“The Connecticut Option is a major step forward for Connecticut, and should serve as a model for every state that wants to improve health care. This proposal will lower premiums and increase financial assistance to give Connecticut residents more affordable options and high quality coverage. It will also restore Medicaid to thousands who lost access to the program in recent years. Every American deserves quality and affordable health care, and under the leadership of Governor Lamont, Comptroller Lembo, and the state legislature, the Connecticut Option will make that possible.”

Washington, DC – Today, Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Doug Jones (D-AL) introduced the “No Junk Plans Act,” a bill that reverses the Trump administration’s expansion of junk insurance plans that do not protect patients with pre-existing conditions. This legislation, cosponsored by the entire Senate Democratic caucus, is a companion to H.R. 987, the bill that passed overwhelmingly by the House of Representatives last week. Brad Woodhouse, executive director of Protect Our Care, praised the legislation in a statement:

“First the House, now the Senate under the leadership of Senators Baldwin and Jones is taking much needed action to end the Trump administration’s push to expand junk insurance plans that discriminate against Americans with a pre-existing condition. Junk insurance plans supported by Trump and Congressional Republicans are disastrous for the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions — especially those who have bought these plans without knowing that they can exclude coverage for essential services like maternity care, prescription drugs, and cancer treatment. If Republicans truly cared about protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, they would support this bill instead of blindly following Trump in his ongoing war on America’s health care.”

BACKGROUND:

Already, junk plans are devastating consumers who get sick:

Stephanie Sena Contracted Sepsis And Needed Amputation — Her Junk Insurance Wouldn’t Pay. “Stephanie Sena was about to have half her foot amputated, an urgent procedure to keep a blood infection from spreading to the rest of her body. But the surgeon required payment up front and the insurance plan that the 39-year-old Villanova University adjunct professor bought months earlier was refusing to pay. She had less than 24 hours to come up with $1,920. Sena’s insurance plan, it turned out, was not real health insurance. It was an accident and sickness hospital indemnity plan that paid a set dollar amount for certain services. This surgery was not on the list. She has since gotten a $1,725 refund for seven months of premiums, after The Inquirer contacted the company, but that will barely put a dent in the $19,000 medical debt she’s accumulated since enrolling in a plan that covers virtually nothing.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/5/19]

Short Term Plans Deceive Consumers Like Milton Rodriguez, Who Learn Their Plans Don’t Cover Emergency Room Services After Going To The Hospital For Emergency Room Services. “If there was ever a time Rodriguez needed health insurance, this was that time. He called an insurance broker who had reached out to him when he was shopping around for a plan. ‘I called at night and just needed something that would cover me right away,’ Rodriguez said.The broker sent a policy, which Rodriguez approved. He then sent a payment to the insurance company. The broker told him he’d be covered starting at 12 a.m. As soon coverage kicked in, Rodriguez went to the closest hospital, St. David’s in South Austin. It turned out he had appendicitis. While he was waiting for a bed in the ER, hospital staff took his insurance information. He had surgery and was sent home to recover. Rodriguez started getting phone calls from doctors and the hospital asking about his insurance plan. ‘And then the next thing I know is, I get my bills in the mail and it seems like the most important part – which was the emergency room, everything that happened within the emergency room – none of that was covered,’ he said. His bill: $62,620. At the bottom of that bill, there was a code explaining why coverage wasn’t applied: ‘This policy does not provide benefits for services provided in the emergency room.’” [KUT, 10/31/18]\

Consumers are often sold these plans intentionally and misleadingly:

Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Finds Consumers Searching Online For ACA Compliant Plans Are Often Directed, Instead, To Junk Plans. “Our marketing scan suggests that consumers shopping online for health insurance, including those using search terms such as ‘Obamacare plans’ or ‘ACA enroll,’ will most often be directed to websites and brokers selling STLDI or other non–ACA compliant products. These websites and brokers often fail to provide consumers with the plan information necessary to inform their purchase. Brokers selling STLDI over the phone push consumers to purchase the insurance quickly, without providing written information…Even during ACA open enrollment, only 19 percent of searches using the previously delineated terms returned sites offering solely ACA-compliant plans. Before open enrollment, the return was less than 1 percent. Generally, regardless of the search terms used, companies selling short-term plans dominated the returns. However, short-term plan insurers’ and brokers’ sites appeared more frequently when we searched for ‘short-term health insurance.’” [Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, 1/31/19]

New York Times: Federal Officials Shut Down Sales Of ‘Ruinous’ Health Insurance Plans. “‘There is good cause to believe’ that the Florida companies have sold shoddy coverage by falsely claiming that such policies were comprehensive health insurance or qualified health plans under the Affordable Care Act, Judge Darrin P. Gayles of the Federal District Court in Miami said in a temporary restraining order issued last week at the request of the Federal Trade Commission…The trade commission said the financial consequences of the misrepresentations ‘have been ruinous for consumers, many of whom do not realize’ the limits of the coverage until they incur substantial medical expenses. The commission described Mr. Dorfman as ‘the architect of this scam’ and said he had ‘siphoned millions of dollars of proceeds from defrauded consumers to pay for private jet travel, gambling sprees in Las Vegas, the rent for his oceanfront condominium, luxury automobiles, over $1 million in jewelry, and even the nearly $300,000 cost of his recent wedding at the St. Regis Hotel in Miami.’” [New York Times, 11/5/18]

The Federal Trade Commission Condemned One Company’s Junk Plan Scheme As “Classic Bait-and-Switch Scheme Designed To Trick Consumers.” “The members of the trade commission — three Republicans and two Democrats — voted unanimously to take action against the Florida operation, which the commission described as ‘a classic bait-and-switch scheme designed to trick consumers into paying hundreds of dollars for substandard products under the pretense that they are actually receiving comprehensive health insurance.’” [New York Times, 11/5/18]

For a deeper look at the history of junk plans and scam, take a look at our fact sheet: “Junk Plans Ripe For Fraud, Dangerous For Consumers.”