President Trump’s campaign donors, administration staff, governors, hospitals, the majority of Americans, and Democratic members of Congress have called on President Trump to reopen the federal insurance marketplace for uninsured Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision leaves nearly 28 million uninsured Americans responsible for sky-rocketing medical bills if they contract the virus and need medical treatment.
But House Republicans are still refusing to stand up for uninsured COVID-19 patients seeking coverage. And they’re hearing about this back home.
Here’s how the Administration’s decision to not to reopen the marketplace is playing across the House battlefield:
IL-06: WGN-TV reported that several U.S. Senators, including Sens. Durbin and Duckworth, joined forces to urge the Trump Administration to reopen the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Several Senators have joined forces to urge the Trump Administration to reopen the Affordable Care Act marketplace. […] The Senators […] want a special enrollment period to help uninsured Americans deal with health care costs related to COVID-19.
[…] The Trump Administration decided weeks ago not to reopen Obamacare enrollment defying calls from health experts, health insurers, as well as democrats.
IL-13: Rep. Rodney Davis repeatedly dodged questions about whether he would call for letting uninsured Illinois residents get insurance during a pandemic.
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IL-13: Rep. Rodney Davis’ Democratic challenger, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan calls on Davis to urge the Trump administration to temporarily reopen the ACA during the coronavirus pandemic. Belleville News-Democrat makes clear his refusal could cost him his job.
“Health care has been the overarching issue and it will continue to be the overarching issue,” Londrigan said. “This pandemic has amplified that this is going to remain the number one thing on people’s minds.” […]
Londrigan, 48, a self-employed nonprofit advisor from Springfield, has repeatedly called on Davis to urge the Trump administration to temporarily reopen Affordable Care Act, or ACA, enrollment so coronavirus patients have access to insurance.“When we have a simple process for people to get insurance, why on Earth would you not reopen it and allow people to purchase insurance?” Londrigan said.
Davis has so far said he would follow the president’s lead. He said reopening enrollment would not help people who can’t afford to pay premiums or take on medical debt, though he added he would be open to discussing the idea with the president’s administration. […]
Regardless of whether voters side with Davis or his Democratic challenger, the national narrative will set the tone for November, Sexton said. […] “But it’s going to be, ‘OK, Rodney Davis has fallen in line with the Trump administration. What has that done for me?’”
OH-01: The largest newspaper in Steve Chabot’s district highlighted the impact of Washington Republicans’ decision to block Ohioans from getting covered.
For Ohioans who didn’t have insurance when they lost jobs the picture is even worse. They face getting the full bill for their care and they’ll have to wait until next year to get access to insurance under the Affordable Care Act because the Trump administration has declined to allow additional enrollment in the face of the epidemic.
PA-07: The Morning Call highlighted Susan Wild’s bill to open a special enrollment period during the pandemic.
Pennsylvania, which will run its own insurance exchange next year, isn’t set up to reopen enrollment on its own. Gov. Tom Wolf has asked federal health officials to allow anyone who may be uninsured or underinsured to enroll in Obamacare plans for 60 days, not just people with life-changing circumstances like a job loss.
Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey have introduced a bill that would require a special health insurance enrollment period any time there is a public health emergency declaration like the coronavirus outbreak.
VA-02, VA-07: Blue Virginia reported on Reps. Elaine Luria and Abigail Spanberger’s push to reopen the marketplace for uninsured Virginians.
“Virginians need access to health care coverage now more than ever. An additional open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act is an important and needed resource during this public health crisis. In Congress, I advocate for improving access to health care access; and we expect a President who will do the same,” said Congresswoman Elaine Luria.
“As COVID-19 takes hold in communities across the Commonwealth and country, the administration should be creating more avenues for patients to sign up for coverage and obtain the critical treatment they need. During this difficult time, we need to expand access to affordable health coverage, not block opportunities for our neighbors to sign up for health insurance. Expanding access to the health insurance marketplace right now is a clear way to save lives throughout our nation, and the administration must reverse its course on this decision. We’ve reached an all hands on deck moment, and we can’t delay in using every resource available to slow the spread and treat the sick,” said Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.
VA-05: Rep. Denver Riggleman was called out in the Daily Progress for backing a lawsuit to overturn the ACA in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 crisis provides a very telling example of why the comprehensive health care reform law known as the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) — a huge step forward in health care reform — is so worthwhile…
Losing the many benefits of the ACA previously listed — such as protection for those with pre-existing conditions, subsidized premiums, no coverage limits, essential health benefits, expanded Medicaid, and prescription drug discounts for seniors — would not only harm Americans’ quality of life. Those losses also would result in many unnecessary deaths…For those in the 5th Congressional District, contact Rep. Denver Riggleman, (434) 973-9631 or (202) 225-471.
WA-03: Jaime Herrera Beutler dodged a question from The Daily News about reopening the marketplace for uninsured Americans.
The Trump administration this week indicated it would not open a special health insurance enrollment period for people who had lost their jobs and are without coverage. When asked about it, Herrera Beutler said she’s “not trying to make a decision for the administration.” The State of Washington opened a special enrollment period until May 8 for its state insurance program.
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