“Junk Insurance” Plans Allow for Exclusion of Pre-Existing Conditions

(Downers Grove, IL) August 2, 2018 – Sixth District Congressional candidate Sean Casten today blasted President Trump and Congressman Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) for their continued assault on affordable health by allowing insurers to exclude those with pre-existing conditions.

“President Trump and Peter Roskam are complicit in a concerted effort to roll back health coverage for millions of Americans,” Casten said.  “Even worse, they would consign those with pre-existing conditions to their previous status of being excluded from coverage at the whim of insurance companies.”

“This isn’t just bad policy – it’s cruel. Health care should be a right for all Americans, not just for those fortunate enough to be healthy and wealthy.”

Yesterday, the Trump Administration approved extending short-term health insurance policies for up to three years. These so-called “junk insurance” policies are designed to attract younger and healthier people – taking them out of the insurance pool and driving up premiums for those who remain. The Trump Administration ruling also allows those junk policies to exclude people with pre-existing conditions.

Last month, during consideration of bills to expand the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Peter Roskam spoke and voted against an amendment that specifically protected those with pre-existing conditions. This followed Roskam’s vote for the Republican health care plan, which would have gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions and caused 30,000 people in his district to lose access to health care.

Peter Roskam’s votes and action continue to contradict public statements made regarding the importance of protecting coverage of those with pre-existing conditions, including a recent claim in a radio debate with Sean Casten on WBBM and a live Fox 32 television debate.

In his campaign for Congress, Sean Casten has laid out a plan to move toward universal health coverage by, among other things, allowing people to buy into Medicare coverage and providing a public option through the insurance exchanges established under the ACA.