Rick Scott Is Confused About The Real Threat To Pre-Existing Conditions Protections -- It’s His Administration

For Immediate Release
October 3, 2018

CONTACT: Damien Filer / 850-212-1858

In last night’s Senate debate, Rick Scott claimed that “we have got to make sure that we take care of people with pre-existing conditions.” Scott must be confused because he forgot that it’s HIS administration that poses the biggest threat to people with pre-existing conditions.

Scott’s administration has joined in the newest legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act, which is awaiting a ruling any day now, that would strike down the very protections he claims are so important. This lawsuit could threaten access to health care for many of the 4 million women in Florida who have a pre-existing condition.

If Scott truly cared about protecting people with pre-existing conditions, he would instruct his Attorney General to remove Florida from the lawsuit, rather than trying to simply blame her for his administration’s active participation in degrading access to affordable health care in Florida

Watch here at 21:25 mark

Quote from Laura Goodhue, Executive Director , Florida Alliance for Planned Parenthood Affiliates:

“The choice is clear for Floridians this November -- a vote for Rick Scott is a vote against the millions of Floridians with pre-existing conditions. If Rick Scott is truly dedicated to protecting people with pre-existing conditions from discrimination, he would call on his Attorney General to drop the legal challenge to the ACA. Rather, his administration is actively pushing to invalidate protections for people with pre-existing conditions. This lawsuit threatens access to health care for millions, including millions of Floridians who have a pre-existing condition. Scott can’t have it both ways -- either he’s for people with pre-existing conditions or he’s against them. Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates calls on Rick Scott to drop the legal challenge to the ACA and protect Floridians with pre-existing conditions. We can’t go back to the days when being a woman or a survivor of sexual assault was a pre-existing condition.”

Rick Scott can repeat his false promises that he will protect people with pre-existing conditions but he can’t just wash away his long history of undermining access to affordable health care in Florida:

• Rick Scott worked hand-in-hand with Republican leaders and the Trump-Pence administration to draft the GOP bill to repeal the law, including provisions to take away protections from people with pre-existing conditions.

Scott has fought for nine years against the ACA, spending $5 million of his own money in 2009 to campaign against the law.