Trump Administration Seeks to Remove Protections for Pre-existing Conditions in Supreme Court November 10,2020

Balderdash and Trump Caring About Your Pre-existing Conditions

White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany’s heartfelt speech at the Republican semi-virtual convention reflected her complete suspension of reality because her anguish about almost having breast cancer isn’t the same as actually being treated for invasive cancer. You know what is really scary, being a widow with a six-year-old actually diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time while a graduate student. Though I didn’t have my dad, husband, or GOD at my side, I did have healthcare through Washington State’s Basic Health Plan. The reason I am alive today is because I had the good fortune to live in a state with sound governance which realized a decade before the Affordable Care Act that people needed healthcare access. Other states which enacted similar programs were Minnesota and Massachusetts. Essentially, the program was very similar to the ACA guidelines, if you were within 130% of the poverty guidelines you were eligible for medical insurance that was a hybrid of Medicare, paid for with premium contributions and state subsidies. Of course, since I already had a breast cancer history (stage II tumor age-35 and mastectomy) I would not have been able to obtain any other medical insurance.

Press Secretary McEnany’s concern for protection due to pre-existing conditions is disingenuous while she works for the Republicans whom have been actively trying to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act affectionately known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, ensured that insurance companies would no longer be able to deny healthcare based on someone’s health status and provided a nationwide mechanism for people to obtain affordable medical insurance. That program was also revenue neutral, (unlike anything the Trump Administration has produced). However, the Republican Administration has eliminated the income tax penalties for people who don’t think they should be forced to obtain medical insurance and of course the 3% tax for medical devices which were financing the ACA subsidies for low and middle-income people to obtain medical insurance. None of these tax cuts made a difference to giant cardiac device manufacturers or artificial hip makers, but they did serve to undermine funding for the pillars of Obamacare.

How galling for the almost breast cancer novitiate to say that “Trump stands by people with pre-existing conditions” while his administration has an active lawsuit, at the Supreme Court to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and throw millions of people with active health conditions, like auto-immune diseases to the wolves. As recent as June of this year Trump said that Obamacare must fall. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments November 10, 2020 by the Trump Administration and 19 Republican attorneys general to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and jettison medical insurance for twenty to thirty million people, me included. I cannot think of a more compelling reason to vote early if you are a vote-by-mail-state or in person if you are required.

I am a 27-year breast cancer survivor and the mother of a twenty-three-year-old son whom has spent the last twenty years working for healthcare reforms, spending ten to thirteen weeks a year working for free on advocacy initiatives to raise awareness of adverse policies which affect your health and promoting sound science to inform your decisions. No, I am not rich, nor is that my aspiration, but neither have I declared bankruptcy so that others could pay my bills, stiffed contractors who worked for me, or sought to undermine basic healthcare for millions.  Nor have I contributed to the unnecessary deaths of even more millions by patchwork state laws which deny access to care for so many hard-working residents of this nation. I choose not suspend reality by the miasma of the Trump Administration which pretends he cares about people with pre-existing conditions-where is the proof.

 I encourage you all to vote this fall based on the evidence not false promises and sloppy rhetoric.

And this is the healthpolicymaven signing off encouraging you not to sign blanket medical release forms before submitting to medical procedures, do designate that for which you agree and for which you decline.

Roberta Winter is an independent journalist and health policy analyst and the author of Unraveling US Healthcare-A Personal Guide https://www.amazon.com/Unraveling-U-S-Health-Care-Personal/dp/1442222972#:~:text=Unraveling%20U.S.%20Health%20Care%20is,their%20health%20care%20decision%20making.