DPCC Report: Republicans Push “Junk” Insurance Plans During Open Enrollment

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, released a report this week on the ways Republicans are attacking the health care of millions of Americans.

During the current open enrollment period, Republicans are pushing the sale and marketing of short-term “junk” insurance plans that do not cover pre-existing conditions, maternity care, or behavioral health. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is using agency funding to promote private insurance brokers who sell insurance to consumers looking for ACA-compliant plans.

“Since his first day in office, President Trump has been undermining health care for millions of Americans. This open enrollment season, the Administration continues to put millions of Americans’ health care at risk by promoting junk insurance plans that do not cover pre-existing conditions. American families deserve health care that will be there for them when they need it,” said Senator Stabenow.

“If actively undermining protections for people with pre-existing conditions wasn’t enough for President Trump, the administration is now taking it to a whole new level by using federal funding to promote threadbare junk insurance plans that don’t cover pre-existing conditions,” said Leader Schumer. “It’s unconscionable for the Trump administration to trick unsuspecting Americans into buying junk plans that do nothing but pad insurer profits. It’s time for Republicans, who’ve claimed to care about protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions, to stop the health care sabotage.”

The report highlights other ways that the Trump Administration is sabotaging health care enrollment for consumers:

·         Nearly Eliminating Funding for Health Care Navigators - Since 2016, the Trump Administration has cut funding for navigators by 84%. Additionally, they removed a rule requiring at least two local navigator groups to provide services, leaving some areas without any assistance.

·         Slashing Budget for Health Care Advertising - On his first day in office, President Trump gutted open enrollment advertisement funding for 2017 and slashed advertisement funding by 90%.

·         Reducing the Time to Sign Up for Coverage - President Trump halved the time available to sign up for health care, moving the end date from January 31 to December 15.

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