Senators Hassan, Shaheen Cosponsor Legislation to Overturn President Trump’s Expansion of Junk Health Insurance Plans

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, yesterday joined the entire Democratic caucus in cosponsoring the No Junk Plans Act  to overturn President Trump’s expansion of junk health insurance plans that do not have to provide health care coverage for Granite Staters and Americans with pre-existing conditions. Companion legislation passed the House of Representatives last week.

“These junk insurance plans are a threat to the health and well-being of hard-working Granite Staters and Americans, undermining critical protections for people with pre-existing conditions like cancer, diabetes, or asthma,” Senator Hassan said. “I am proud to support this legislation, and I will keep standing up against the Trump Administration’s harmful efforts to raise health care costs, strip vital health care coverage away from millions of Americans, and destabilize health insurance markets.”

“Junk insurance plans increase costs for Granite Staters and sabotage critical protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, while offering little in the way of actual health coverage,” said Senator Shaheen. “We cannot sit idly by while the Trump Administration destabilizes health insurance markets and restricts access to quality, affordable health care. I will continue my efforts to build a consensus around this common-sense legislation.”

Last October, Senators Hassan and Shaheen voted to overturn the Trump Administration’s expansion of junk insurance plans. Senator Hassan has spoken out against the Trump Administration’s rule to expand junk health insurance plans, and sent a letter with Senator Shaheen and 45 other colleagues last year calling on the Trump Administration to halt expansion of these health insurance plans. Senator Hassan also cosponsored the Fair Care Act, which would block the Administration’s rule allowing insurance companies to sell junk insurance plans and guarantee protections for people with pre-existing conditions. 

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