Boswell Offers Amendment to Protect Future Medicare Recipients and Americans with Preexisting Conditions

Leonard Boswell

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell introduced an amendment to recommit H.R. 1213 that would prohibit insurance companies from participating in health insurance exchanges if they deny coverage for cancer or other pre-existing conditions, especially for seniors and future Medicare recipients.

“My amendment addresses a key concern among my constituents that if Republicans are successful in privatizing Medicare and ending guaranteed health care benefits for future recipients then they would struggle to find affordable, quality coverage,” said Boswell. “There are 129 million – 1 out of every 2 – Americans under the age of 65 who qualify as having a preexisting condition. If Medicare were to be privatized, my amendment gives future recipients some protection under the law by barring insurance companies from participating in health insurance exchanges if they engage in denying coverage or charging outrageous rates for those with preexisting conditions.”