With Election Day nearing, we’re in peak gaslighting mode.
FACT: Almost every Republican incumbent who now claims to support protections for people with pre-existing conditions previously endorsed efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
TL;DR: They’re lying about their records in attempts to win your votes.
Health care is the number one issue voters care about right now — and Republican candidates know it. They’ve seen the polls: They know that for many voters, whether a candidate will protect health care access for people with pre-existing conditions is the single most important factor in their decision at the ballot box.
Republicans know it doesn’t bode well for them that they have long records of attacking access to health care. So they’re lying to voters and misrepresenting their harmful records of attacking protections for pre-existing conditions.
Don't be fooled. Here are some of the candidates who are distorting the facts in an attempt to win your vote.
Martha McSally, Arizona candidate for U.S. Senate
What she says: Her campaign released an ad claiming that she’s "leading the fight" to "force insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions."
The reality: She voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with Trumpcare, which would have stripped protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Rick Scott, Florida candidate for U.S. Senate
What he says: In a new ad, Scott shares the story of how his brother had a pre-existing condition and he pledges to fight for people like him.
The reality: Just months ago, Scott’s administration signed Florida onto a federal lawsuit trying to invalidate the very ACA provision that requires companies to cover pre-existing conditions. His 2010 campaign for governor was dedicated to stopping the ACA’s passage, and he later worked closely with Donald Trump and Mike Pence in efforts to to repeal the ACA.
Dean Heller, Nevada candidate for U.S. Senate
What he says: “I’m fighting to protect pre-existing conditions and increase funding for Nevadans who need it most.”
The reality: Just days ago, Heller cast the deciding vote to continue Trump’s expansion of junk health insurance plans — which don’t require coverage for pre-existing conditions. He’s also one of the namesakes behind the Graham-Cassidy-Heller bill. Known as the worst bill for women in a generation, the disastrous legislation would have allowed insurance companies to charge a person who had been pregnant about $17,320 more per year for health coverage, and breast cancer survivors $28,660 more per year.
Josh Hawley, Missouri candidate for U.S. Senate
What he says: “I'm committed to covering those with pre-existing conditions.”
The reality: He’s fighting in federal court to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional. Hawley’s one of 20 Republican attorneys general who brought forward the federal lawsuit, which the Trump administration has signed onto. His attacks on the ACA would eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Scott Walker, Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate
What he says: "Covering pre-existing conditions is personal to me. Plus, it’s the right thing to do."
The reality: Walker’s repeatedly lied about supporting protections for people with pre-existing conditions. His platform says he’ll protect health care, yet he’s led the charge in attacking the Affordable Care Act — which his own administration admits would strip protections from people with pre-existing conditions.
Mike DeWine, Ohio gubernatorial candidate
What he says: His campaign released a TV ad featuring his daughter, who says her father supports health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
The reality: His first act as Ohio's Attorney General was to join a federal lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act. He continues to refuse to join state attorneys generals who are defending the ACA.
Karin Housley, Minnesota candidate for U.S. Senate
What she says: She told voters that she’ll “make sure” insurance companies can’t deny coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions.
The reality: She wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and falsely claimed that it “decimated health insurance” in Minnesota.
Jeff Johnson, Minnesota gubernatorial candidate
What he says: His TV ad says he wants a “brighter future for Minnesota,” which includes coverage for pre-existing conditions.
The reality: He wants to move Minnesotans away from the Affordable Care Act and its protections. He also advocates for reinstituting failed policies like high-risk pools, which will strip protections from people with pre-existing conditions.
Erik Paulsen, Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District
What he says: “I support… expand[ing] access to health care by protecting patients with pre-existing conditions.”
The reality: Paulsen voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have gutted pre-existing conditions protections and caused over 250,000 Minnesotans to lose health care. He also lied to the public about the bill’s impact.
If these candidates win on Election Day, they’ll jeopardize health care coverage for millions of people across the country.
Protections for people with pre-existing conditions have saved lives and livelihoods. Pulling the rug out from under the millions of people with pre-existing conditions could doom them — and their families — to a life without health care or financial ruin. We can’t let that happen.
Tags: Affordable Care Act, pre-existing conditions, Trumpcare