Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

The constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is pending before the United States Supreme Court.  If the Court, which is expected to issue an opinion this term, were to find the ACA unconstitutional, insurance companies could immediately begin denying coverage for individuals who have a pre-existing condition.

In the near future, we plan on re-introducing Senate Bill 50 which would enshrine in state law a prohibition on health insurance companies from using an individual’s pre-existing medical condition to deny or exclude coverage under a health insurance policy. This legislation was developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Several states have sought and been approved for a waiver from this requirement and have begun selling insurance policies on the ACA marketplace that deny coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions.  According to information from the Insurance Department, up to 5.4 million people in the Commonwealth have a pre-existing condition.

Our legislation would amend the Insurance Company Law to prohibit health insurance companies from denying or excluding coverage based on an individual’s preexisting medical conditions.  In the past, this legislation has enjoyed bipartisan support.

Please join us in protecting our constituents and ensuring they continue to have access to health coverage by co-sponsoring this important legislation.

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Holroyd in Senator Collett’s office at Tom.Holroyd@pasenate.com or at 717-787-6599 or Michael Deery in Senator Hughes’ office at Michael.Deery@pasenate.com or at 717-787-7112.