WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) plan to reintroduce the Protect Act, which would protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure they would not be denied health care coverage or be charged more because of a pre-existing condition.

“Protecting Americans with pre-existing health conditions is simply the right thing to do, and that’s what this legislation does,” Senator Capito said. “I will continue working with my colleagues toward commonsense solutions that result in better health care, affordable coverage, and expanded options for all West Virginians, including those battling the disease of addiction.”

The Protect Act amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to:

  • Guarantee the availability of health insurance coverage in the individual or group market, regardless of pre-existing conditions.

  • Prohibit discrimination against patients based on health status – including prohibiting increased premiums for patients due to pre-existing conditions.

  • Prohibit insurance companies from excluding coverage of treatments for a beneficiary’s pre-existing condition. 

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