In Republican ads for the House and Senate, there’s been a common theme:
“I support forcing insurance companies to protect pre-existing conditions”
“Kevin Cramer voted for guaranteed coverage for pre-existing coverage”
“Force insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions”
“I’m fighting to protect pre-existing conditions”
The problem is, that’s not true.
Most Americans are covered by private health insurance.
And historically, Republicans have wanted to reduce government regulation, which means
allowing insurance companies to choose who they protect, what to charge them and what
services to cover.
For most of their history, American insurance companies could refuse to cover people with
preexisting conditions like asthma, depression, and even pregnancy.
So those people had to pay for their care out of pocket, or just go without.
But then Congress passed the Affordable Care Act
“The bill is passed” Or “Obamacare” in 2010.
President Obama signed it,
And now, insurance companies have to cover people with preexisting conditions without
charging them more than healthy people.
Republicans have been trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act ever since.
“I rise today to support the repeal of the President’s take over of health care”
“There’s only one way to truly fix Obamacare.
Only one way, and that’s a full repeal.”
“Every republican up to this point has voted to repeal Obamacare!”
“And repeal every last bit of it!”
“Once and for all repeal Obamacare entirely."
“We will repeal every word of Obamacare!”
They came close in 2017 and were within one vote before they got the thumbs down, literally,
from John McCain.
But between 2010 and now, something changed.
Starting in 2017, more Americans supported the health care law than opposed it and that’s
put Republican candidates in an awkward position.
This Midterms, the top issue for voters is health care and, in particular, preexisting
conditions.
72% of Americans say it’s very important to prohibit companies from charging sick people
more for health insurance.
That’s causing Republicans like senator Ted Cruz to adjust their message.
“We can protect preexisting conditions and you need to understand, everyone agrees we
are going to protect pre-existing conditions!”
But unlike Republicans, who are most concerned with immigration,
independents care most about health care.
So in order to win their votes, Republicans are misleading them.
Take New Jersey’s third district.
Incumbent Tom MacArthur is in a tight race against Andy Kim, a first time candidate trying
to win a seat that’s been Republican since 2011.
Tom MacArthur has a problem.
In 2017, he wrote the “MacArthur amendment”: a proposal that would have let insurers charge
sick people more, cover less.
That move didn’t make his constituents happy.
“Speaking of which, my children both have pre-existing conditions from birth: one cardiac,
one thyroid.
You have been the single greatest threat to my family in the entire world!
You are the reason I stay up at night!”
Now those voters are going to the polls and MacArthur is having to defend himself.
“So my commitment has always been: protect people with pre-existing conditions, maybe
do it differently than the Affordable Care Act, which has driven costs up.”
For MacArthur, “doing it differently” means requiring insurance companies to offer
coverage for sick people but letting them charge more for it.
Elsewhere, other Republican candidates are being even more bold.
In Missouri, Democrat Claire McCaskill is running for Senate in a tight race against
Josh Hawley, the State Attorney General.
Here’s a most recent ad: I’m Josh Hawley.
I support forcing insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions.
That’s not true.
On behalf of Missouri, Josh Hawley has joined other conservative attorneys general in a
lawsuit arguing that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.
If they win, insurance companies will be allowed to deny sick people coverage and charge them
more.
In 2014, turnout for the Midterm elections was the lowest it has been since 1942.
But this year, things look very different.
For Republicans, that’s a threat.
Health care is a top issue this year and a majority of voters disagree with their policies
on it.
“Justice is health care” But instead of trying to defend their actions
they’re doing something easier: just saying what people want to hear.