Patient organizations applaud strong actions to protect people with pre-existing conditions

01/29/2021

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – 33 organizations representing millions of people with pre-existing conditions applaud the much-needed patient protections in two of Executive Orders issued by President Biden on January 28. 

The organizations released the following statement: 

“President Biden’s actions this week represent a significant first step towards improving access to high-quality health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. After facing years of challenges and increased barriers to care, the patients we serve welcome these measures announced yesterday to secure the health of our country during a time of great need. 

We applaud the Administration’s decision to open a special enrollment period so that millions of patients and consumers, who have been hard hit by the dual impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn, can enroll in high-quality health insurance coverage. 

These executive orders also make strides in unwinding the policies that have blocked some patients’ access to the Medicaid program, including work requirements. Medicaid has been a coverage lifeline for low-income Americans for decades but has recently been subject to policies that restrict access and undermine coverage. We’ve long opposed those restrictions, but they are particularly misguided during the pandemic. 

Today’s announcements represent the first of what we hope are many improvements aimed at better serving the millions of people with pre-existing conditions. Together, we look forward to continuing this work with the Administration and Congress to ensure all patients have access to affordable and adequate insurance coverage.” 

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Alpha-1 Foundation 

ALS Association 

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 

American Diabetes Association 

American Heart Association 

American Kidney Fund 

American Liver Foundation 

American Lung Association 

Arthritis Foundation 

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 

Cancer Support Community 

Chronic Disease Coalition 

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 

Epilepsy Foundation 

Family Voices 

Hemophilia Federation of America 

March of Dimes 

Mended Hearts & Mended Little Hearts 

Muscular Dystrophy Association 

National Alliance on Mental Illness 

National Health Council 

National Hemophilia Foundation 

National Kidney Foundation 

National Multiple Sclerosis Society 

National Organization for Rare Disorders 

National Patient Advocate Foundation 

National Psoriasis Foundation 

Pulmonary Hypertension Association 

Susan G. Komen 

The AIDS Institute 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 

United Way Worldwide 

WomenHeart:The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease