Reps. Courtney, Miller Introduce Legislation to Boost Healthcare Coverage for Workers with Chronic Illnesses
Bill Would Increase Access to Comprehensive Health Care for 94 Million Americans

Thursday, July 19, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), joined by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), unveiled new legislation today that would protect workers with chronic illnesses and pre-existing medical conditions from losing health care coverage when they switch jobs. The bill, H.R. 2833, would end loopholes in current law that allow employers to refuse to provide critical health care coverage for new employees – increasing access to comprehensive health care for the 94 million American workers who suffer from chronic illnesses.

“Americans who go to work every day to earn a living should be able to get the care they need to live their lives in the healthiest, most productive way they can,” said Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “This legislation would correct a glaring injustice by ensuring that workers don’t lose health care coverage for their chronic illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure, when they switch jobs. I commend Rep. Courtney for introducing this important legislation, which is a huge step towards ensuring better access to comprehensive health care coverage for all workers and is a key part of our efforts to strengthen the nation’s middle class.”

“All Americans deserve access to affordable health care coverage without discrimination as a result of any chronic or pre-existing condition,” said Courtney, a member of the committee and the sponsor of the legislation. “My legislation will protect individuals suffering from chronic illnesses from further abuse by the health care industry.  I thank Chairman George Miller for joining me in this important effort and for his foresight to protect America’s families and children who are burdened by the high cost or unavailability of health coverage.”

In 1996, Congress enacted the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to allow individuals to retain seamless coverage when changing health plans without being penalized for prior medical treatment or diagnosis.  While the 1996 legislation offers some critical protections, it has become increasingly clear that it does not go far enough to protect people seeking to change health plans or initiate new individual insurance policies.  Too often, health insurance companies would deny coverage for individuals with even the slightest mark on their medical history with the explanation that the preexisting or chronic condition excluded them from coverage.

HIPAA provides some protections for individuals enrolled in group health coverage.  H.R. 2833 builds on HIPAA’s protections by:

• Extending the law’s protections to include not just people in group health plans, but also people in individual health plans (which individuals and families purchase on the open market);  
• Ensuring that, when people enroll in new health plans because of a job change or for any other reason, they will only be subject to a three month waiting period before becoming eligible to receive coverage for their pre-existing health conditions (as opposed to a 12 month period under current law); and
• Reducing the number of individuals who are unable to obtain health coverage due to a pre-existing condition. Under current law, people who have a pre-existing medical condition must have been covered by their previous health plan for at least six months in order to be eligible for coverage for their pre-existing condition through their new health plan. This legislation would reduce that period from six months to 30 days.

Miller said today that the House Education and Labor Committee expects to convene hearings on the legislation this fall after Congress returns from the August recess.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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