Sen. Rockefeller, Rep. Courtney Introduce Bill Banning Health Insurance Discrimination Against People With Pre-Existing Conditions

March 19, 2009 8:34 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Two members of Congress have introduced a bill to end health insurance discrimination against people with pre-existing or chronic health conditions.

Sen. John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), who chairs the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, have introduced the Pre-existing Condition Patient Protection Act that would eliminate the pre-existing condition exclusion.

About 133 million Americans live with at least one chronic health condition.

Noting that fact, Rockefeller said that insurance companies should not be allowed to continue reaping profits by denying care to sick Americans.

"We as a nation can no longer stand by and continue to allow this practice to occur. These medical services are not optional, and most times, they are not affordable without insurance," Rockefeller said in a statement. "Our system is broken-which is why we must eliminate the ability of insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions in every single market. The time for serious action is now."

As it stands now, many people simply can't afford the health care they need. Both Rockefeller and Courtney think that is wrong and that every American should have access to meaningful, comprehensive and affordable health care.

"It is wrong and impractical to commit ourselves to health care reform without addressing the faulty and ill-advised pre-existing condition exclusion," Courtney said in the same statement.

"This discriminatory practice prevents millions of hardworking Americans from changing or finding new jobs and in this economy that is just plain wrong," Courtney added. "Senator Rockefeller and I agree that it is time for the most advanced nation in the world to have a world-class health care system that is fair and affordable."

The bill would end the practice of denying coverage to people with such conditions as heart disease or cancer.

President Barack Obama supports reforming the nation's health care and insurance systems and it is one of his goals. During the campaign, Obama often spoke of how his mother spent her last months on earth, dying from cancer, although she had health insurance coverage she had to battle with her insurance company to pay her claims.