Walt’s Plan to Save Pre-existing Condition Coverage

Under Kay Ivey’s administration, the State of Alabama joined a lawsuit seeking to repeal the rules that require health insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. This unconscionable action is directly against the best interests of the people of Alabama.

The law that the Governor and Attorney General are attacking ended the common practice of insurance companies denying coverage or raising premiums for medical conditions that existed prior to the insurance taking effect. Conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, COPD, arthritis, high blood pressure, pregnancy, or even conditions you don’t know you have. This protects everyone because if you get new insurance for any reason – like changing jobs, coming under your spouse’s plan, or buying a policy on the exchange – you need the peace of mind of knowing it will pay for treating all your medical conditions at a reasonable price regardless of how long you’ve had them.

But the State of Alabama, under our current failed leadership, is actually suing the federal government to end this protection for pre-existing conditions!

Kay Ivey could end this harmful and ill-advised lawsuit today. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that the Governor is the ultimate authority as CEO of State government to control the State’s legal interests, even over the actions or objection of the Attorney General. Kay Ivey has abdicated her responsibility and is instead putting insurance company profits over the needs of healthcare consumers like us.

Once in office, I will immediately take action to reverse Kay Ivey’s use of the courts to take away pre-existing condition coverage for Alabama citizens. I will stop putting the interests of insurance companies over the best interests of the people they are supposed to serve.