WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Gardner’s Stunt Bill “Expressly Allow[s] Insurance Companies to Deny People Coverage”
Colorado Cancer survivor: “Cory Gardner pretends to care about people with pre-existing conditions, but only produces platitudes and phony baloney bills.”
Protect Our Care: “Voters in Colorado won’t be fooled by Senator Gardner’s sham of a bill. This bill isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
Former CMS Administrator: Gardner “is proposing a bill to expressly allow insurance companies to deny people coverage & calling it the ‘pre-existing protections act.’ Cory, your record is a pre-existing condition. And yes, it is an act.”
Denver, CO - Senator Cory Gardner was slammed by health care advocates for his “political maneuver” sham health care bill, a desperate attempt to try to hide his record of crusading against the Affordable Care Act. Gardner has voted at least 13 times to repeal, block, or defund the ACA, and supports the GOP lawsuit that could eliminate protections for 2.4 million Coloradans with pre-existing conditions.
See what health care experts are saying about Gardner’s sham bill:
Andy Slavitt, former CMS Administrator:
Protect Our Care: "Despite its name, this bill doesn’t actually protect people with pre-existing conditions because it allows insurance companies to place yearly and lifetime limits on essential benefits and to deny coverage outright based on a condition. Voters in Colorado won’t be fooled by Senator Gardner’s sham of a bill. This bill isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on."
Laura Packard, Colorado cancer survivor & health care advocate:
Adam Fox, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative: “This is pure politicking. If Gardner really wanted to help people with pre-existing conditions, he would protect the ACA, denounce the lawsuit against it, and make sure our Medicaid program is fully funded through the health crisis.”
Larry Levitt, Kaiser Family Foundation:
Jim Kessler, Third Way: "Cory Gardner just introduced an 11th hour fake bill to solve a real problem on pre-existing conditions. He ran for Senate on the evisceration of the ACA and restoring the tyranny of pre-existing conditions. An election year deathbed conversion can’t change that."
Planned Parenthood Colorado: "Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner has pushed forward a weak health care proposal that would result in denial of health care coverage for Coloradans with pre-existing conditions...Under his proposal, insurance companies could deny coverage for pre-existing conditions and wouldn’t require coverage for essential benefits like maternity care and prescription drugs. Once again, Cory Gardner is turning his back on Coloradans. "
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