U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) blasted the Republican assault on her neighbors with pre-existing health conditions, as oral arguments begin in a federal District Court in Texas in the Republicans’ Texas v. United States lawsuit to strike down the Affordable Care Act’s protections for all Americans and Floridians with pre-existing health conditions.  The Republican lawsuit jeopardizes the health care of 130 million Americans, including 68 million women and girls, nationwide.  Almost 8 million Floridians with pre-existing health conditions, including over 4 million women and girls, could have their coverage ripped away by the lawsuit spearheaded by the Florida GOP and Governor Rick Scott.

“First, Republicans voted to take away protections for Americans with pre-existing health conditions like asthma, diabetes, cancer, mental illness or substance abuse to name a few.  Now they are suing to destroy the protections in the courts,” U.S. Rep. Castor said.  “Unfortunately for Florida families, Florida Governor Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi have sided once again with Republicans and the Trump Administration to rip health coverage away from our neighbors.  This latest attack is disturbing but not surprising – Governor Scott and AG Bondi together with Congressional Republicans have been working to undermine the consumer protections of the Affordable Care Act since it was signed into law.

“Last year, families in Florida and across the country rose up to defeat the House Republican plan to end protections for Americans with pre-existing health conditions like asthma, diabetes, cancer, mental illness or substance abuse and push tens of millions more off their affordable, quality coverage,” continued U.S. Rep. Castor.  “But Republicans have chosen to ignore the will of the people once again, and are now pushing a lawsuit that would spell the end of basic protections that prevent insurers from denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing health conditions or charging them more.  It is appalling that Republicans are working time and time again to ensure that innocent people could be deprived of affordable coverage for their entire lives.”

According to reports from the Center for American Progress, the Republican efforts to eliminate protections for Americans with pre-existing health conditions:

• Jeopardize the health care and financial stability of almost 8 million Floridians;
• Force 4,086,000 women and girls in Florida, including 350,000 pregnant women, to pay more for insurance or be denied coverage outright.

“Americans’ health care will never be safe as long as Republicans control Washington,” said U.S. Rep. Castor.  “I am proud to stand once again with families in Tampa Bay and Florida to fight the vicious GOP attacks on quality, affordable coverage and to ensure that all have access to the health care that they need.  Democrats will continue to fight for their neighbors and in the next Congress give Floridians A Better Deal to protect their care and lower their health costs.”

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