During the presidential campaign, President Barack Obama clearly expressed that he supports eliminating health insurance discrimination based on a patient’s pre-existing medical conditions. In our current system, young and old patients alike have difficulty gaining and maintaining insurance coverage if they have ever been treated for even manageable illnesses or conditions.
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-Penn.) and Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-Penn.) reintroduced the “Children’s Health Protection Act of 2009” on Thursday, March 5. This very important legislation would eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods for all children and young adults under the age of 25.
This legislation will protect the 20 percent of school-aged children that have a chronic condition, who are being denied access to care or coverage or at risk of that, as well as the 9 million children who currently are uninsured. Children and young adults are a vulnerable population and our health care system should shield them from unfair insurance practices that negatively impact their access to necessary care.
In an effort to control escalating health care costs and keep our children healthy, Congress should pass the “Children’s Health Protection Act of 2009” immediately.
As a state policy liaison for The National Patient Advocate Foundation, I voluntarily contact members of Congress regarding the issues that affect access to healthcare and inform them about the issues facing patients in South Carolina and beyond. I want to thank you for sharing this information with your audience so that they may be informed about the “Children’s Health Protection Act of 2009”
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