Trump Administration’s Executive Order on Pre-Existing Health Conditions Is a Sham

(BOSTON, MA) – Today, President Donald Trump announced an executive order falsely claiming to protect people with pre-existing conditions. In fact, those critical consumer protections are already enshrined in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the law the Trump administration  is attempting to overturn by supporting the Health Care Repeal Lawsuit, California v. Texas, currently before the Supreme Court. The lawsuit seeks to overturn the ACA and along with it protections for 135 million people with pre-existing conditions and health coverage for 23 million people across the country. The executive order comes as the president prepares to announce his Supreme Court justice pick to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a nominee widely expected to support repeal of the ACA. Oral arguments on California v. Texas are expected to begin a week after the election. 

Statement of Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst: 

“This executive order is a sham. It’s nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the fact that the Trump administration is petitioning the Supreme Court to overturn the entire Affordable Care Act, which would take away people’s health care and pre-existing condition protections. Coming only days before President Trump is slated to announce a Supreme Court nominee widely expected to support ACA repeal, today’s executive order is a clear attempt to hide from the American people what’s at stake for their health care. The best way for the Trump administration to protect people with pre-existing conditions from being dropped from their insurance or charged more for coverage would be to withdraw support for the Health Care Repeal Lawsuit and to put forward a Supreme Court nominee who would honor the high court’s prior rulings upholding the ACA.” 

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About Community Catalyst 
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill.For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter@healthpolicyhub