Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Rep. Joseph Courtney (D-CT) introduced the "Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Patient Protection Act of 2009" (S. 623/HR 1558) on March 17, 2009. These companion bills ensure access to health insurance by eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods for all individuals regardless of age or insurance type.

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association is proud to have helped secure the introduction of this important legislation that will address barriers to health insurance that individuals with pre-existing conditions face in the healthcare system.

When this bill was first introduced last year in the 110th Congress, it reduced the pre-existing condition exclusion/waiting periods for all individuals in the group and individual health insurance markets. However, Sen. Rockefeller and Rep. Courtney have decided to broaden their bill regarding pre-existing conditions for the benefit of persons with serious pre-existing conditions. In addition, the bill (1) provides that the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report to Congress on the extent of adverse selection in the issuance of health insurance coverage that results from the enactment of the bill and (2) requires a GAO report on affordability to be submitted to Congress not later than one year after the date of enactment of the bill addressing what impact the legislation has had on affordability of coverage for individuals in the group and individual health insurance markets.

We now need your help to gain support for these important bills. Please ask your Senators and U.S. Representatives to become co-sponsors of these important measures!!

You can use the Congress Connect button at the bottom of this page to identify your elected official. This will give you her/his website from which you can send an email. It is also effective to call their local or national office.

Below is a sample email letter for your use.  It is always a good idea to include a sentence or two which tells of your own personal experiences.   

Dear Senator _______ :  or Dear Representative ______:

As a constituent who is concerned about the increasing challenges that people with chronic, disabling, and life-threatening autoimmune conditions face when seeking health insurance coverage, I am writing to respectfully request that you co-sponsor the "Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Patient Protection Act of 2009" which eliminates barriers to health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations.

The "Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Patient Protection Act of 2009" (HR 1558/S. 623) eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions and waiting periods for all individuals, regardless of age or insurance type, thus allowing access to necessary healthcare services at a critical time for patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, approximately 133 million Americans, or 45 percent of the population, have at least one chronic disease. All of these individuals are at risk of facing health insurance discrimination due to their health status.

I am very concerned that without enactment of HR 1558/S. 623, too many Americans will not be able to secure health insurance coverage. Thank you very much for your consideration of my request for your co-sponsorship. I look forward to hearing from you and learning your position on this important legislation.

Sincerely,

Your name/address/phone