Republican candidates around the country now insist they support protection for those with pre-existing conditions.
And Republican lawmakers from every part of the nation are working to get their healthcare promises declared illegal.
Here’s how.
A few years ago, our Missouri Republican Senator, Roy Blunt, expressed his compassion for children, but also explained why some sick people ought to simply give up and die on moral grounds, rather than think they deserve medical treatment.
Access for kids who have pre-existing conditions, who would be against that? But access for adults, who have done nothing to take care of themselves, who actually will have as I’ve just described every incentive not to get insurance until the day that you know that you’re going to have medical expenses, that’s, that’s a very different kind of story.
Senator Roy Blunt, April 9, 2010
His point carried a sort of logic.
Suppose insurance companies, those that sell fire insurance, were required to sell fire insurance to anyone at any time?
Is there any reason for you or me or anyone to buy fire insurance now, right now, if you can wait until your house is actually burning?
And, if you were an insurance corporation, could you afford to insure burning houses? Wouldn’t you just close shop and sell something else?
Let’s say it straight out. This is the season for conservative lies about pre-existing conditions. They get away with it because most us suffer from one specific pre-existing condition:
The MEGO effect – My Eyes Glaze Over.
When you get into the tall weeds of insurance matters, most younger folks have better things to do, and most of us older folks would rather be spoiling the grandkids.
Until it’s our house – – or our health or that of those grandkids.
Conservatives who have long been arguing against universal health coverage are suddenly saying they have always been for it.
Conservative former Republican Joe Scarborough compiled a partial list of those who have a history of opposing coverage for pre-existing conditions. Here is what they are saying now:
Rick Scott in Florida:
I support forcing insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.
Josh Hawley here in Missouri:
I support forcing insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions.
Dean Heller in Nevada:
I’m fighting to protect pre-existing conditions.
Kevin Cramer in North Dakota:
Kevin Cramer voted for guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in California:
I’m taking on both parties and fighting for those with pre-existing conditions.
Ted Cruz in Texas:
Everyone agrees we’re going to protect pre-existing conditions.
Martha McSally in Arizona:
I’m committed to protecting people with pre-existing conditions.
Brian Kemp in Georgia:
I do protect folks with pre-existing conditions. That is just absurd to think that I wouldn’t do that.
Scott Walker in Wisconsin:
In Wisconsin pre-existing conditions are covered. And as long as I’m governor they always will be.
Donald Trump:
Republicans will always protect Americans with pre-existing conditions.
Josh Hawley, here in Missouri, is of particular interest. His Democratic opponent, current Senator Claire McCaskill, keeps pointing out that, while Josh has been insisting he is for coverage, as Attorney General he is still in court arguing to leave adults with preexisting conditions, and parents whose kids have pre-existing conditions, out in the cold with no coverage and no treatment.
I’m Josh Hawley. I support forcing insurance companies to cover all pre-existing conditions and Claire McCaskill knows it.
Here’s how Josh explained it when he was asked if he still wants to abolish Obamacare:
Yes I would. I think it’s absolutely vital that we get rid of the failures of Obamacare. We bring down costs. We protect people with pre-existing conditions in the law with a mandate, Chuck, that ensures that we do it.
So he wants to abolish Obamacare, with all its complicated mandates. But he wants a new uncomplicated law that just requires insurance companies to insure everyone.
The lawsuit conservatives have been sponsoring for years, the one that Missouri’s own Republican Senate candidate Josh Hawley is part of, is against Obamacare on interesting grounds. It should be illegal because of coverage for pre-existing conditions. Mr. Hawley says it’s to eliminate Obamacare, but the lawsuit says a little more in writing.
Here is the legal logic:
Conservatives have been objecting for the last ten years or so to a requirement that everyone has to buy health insurance. You should not force folks to buy anything. Not a gallon of milk, not paper straws, not insurance. It’s about freedom.
Obamacare gives folks a break at tax time if they have health insurance, or imposes a penalty if they don’t. Depends on how you look at it. And Obamacare says that insurance companies have to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, and at the same price.
Josh Hawley’s lawsuit argues that forcing people to buy health insurance is wrong. And Obamacare can’t work unless health care is mandatory. Remember the burning house.
The Republican lawsuit goes on to argue that, therefore, forcing insurance companies to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions should also be illegal.
Everyone get that?
Courts must declare that Obamacare is unconstitutional because it forces coverage of pre-existing conditions.
And that, folks, is how it works this week.
Republicans are promising that they will fight for those who need treatment for pre-existing conditions.
And they are fighting hard, in court, to make that promise now and forever illegal.
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