Iowa Democrats Call on Trump Administration to Halt Efforts to Strike Down ACA Protections

Eliminating ACA strips patient protections, including coverage of pre-existing conditions, reopens donut hole and kicks young adults off parents’ care

Washington, D.C. – Today, Iowa’s three Democratic Representatives, Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01) and Cindy Axne (IA-03) called on the Department of Justice to drop its effort to strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would lead to the loss of patient protections, including for those with pre-existing conditions, reopening the prescription drug donut hole, removing the ban on lifetime limits and taking away the ability for young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance until 26. In a letter to Attorney General William Barr, Loebsack called on the administration to halt its efforts to strike down the ACA.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

“This decision would have terrible consequences on American families who deserve access to quality, affordable health care. Repealing the ACA would return us to a time when millions were uninsured due to pre-existing conditions and those who need healthcare most were limited by lifetime caps,” the Representatives wrote. “Overturning the ACA would harm the 133 million Americans who have pre-existing conditions – including the 1,290,000 Iowans who have pre-existing conditions who would be threatened.”

The Representatives concluded: “The cost of healthcare has become unaffordable for the majority of Americans. We must focus on lowering the costs of healthcare services and prescription drugs and not remove insurance coverage and protections from those who need it most.”