DNC Vice Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Calls House GOP Health Care Plan the "Health Insurance Company Protection Act"

Washington, D.C.- DNC Vice Chair and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) today issued the following statement in response to the news that Congressional Republicans are planning to introduce what she said amounts to a “Health Insurance Company Protection Act.” Wasserman Schultz said the GOP plan, as it has been characterized in press reports, would allow health insurance companies to continue engaging in unfair and discriminatory practices like denying coverage to people because of a preexisting medical condition and dropping coverage for people who are sick.

“It’s appalling that John Boehner and Republicans in Congress would rather maintain the status quo and allow insurance companies to continue engaging in unfair practices that boost their profits at the expense of consumers than pass the health insurance reform American families and businesses so desperately need. We have said for some time that Republicans are more interested in protecting the health insurance industry than in helping consumers – and the plan Republicans are putting forward is all the proof anyone would need to know we’ve been telling the truth. The Republican plan amounts to a ‘Health Insurance Company Protection Act’ and shows once and for all that Republicans don’t want real reform and will fight to protect the status quo every step of the way. At a time when health insurance costs are skyrocketing and families fear losing their coverage if someone gets sick, the last thing we need is to give insurance companies another break. Passing the Republicans’ bill would be worse than passing no reform at all.

“It’s time for Republicans to get the message: Americans want real reform. Instead of handing out favors to big insurance companies, Republicans should work with President Obama and Democrats in Congress to pass the health insurance reform our country needs.”