On Thursday, the House passed a bill that would start the motions to finally repeal and replace Obamacare. The American Health Care Act, dubbed “Trumpcare,” outlined new requirements for insurance costs, including those related to preexisting conditions.
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, mandated that insurers charge everyone the same amount, regardless of preexisting conditions or health history. It also required that they cover the costs of all prescription drugs, treatments and doctors visits.
Trump’s new law, which still requires a vote from the Senate, redefined those rules, telling insurers that they can adjust costs based on health history and preexisting conditions. Insurers will not be able to deny coverage outright, but they will be able to apply for a wavier on a state-by-state basis to allow them to charge higher premiums to people with preexisting conditions.
It also redefined preexisting conditions, adding to the list things that are arguably out of the patients control, such as PTSD from rape, pregnancy, and domestic violence.
Obviously, people are mad.
Following the announcement that the bill had passed, the hashtag #IAmAPreexistingCondition began trending on Twitter.
"They're saying 'just die.'"
Protesters with pre-existing conditions told me their fears of losing insurance. #IamAPreExistingCondition pic.twitter.com/xUjy2Nh1iQ
— Alex Berg (@itsalexberg) May 5, 2017
Users around the country were prompted to share pictures of themselves or their loved ones receiving treatments and naming their diseases, along with the hashtag.
Stage 4 Metastatic Colon Cancer, 42 year old mother and registered nurse. $142k insurance premiums?!#IAmAPreexistingCondition pic.twitter.com/zAaedly1jb
— amazelleRN (@amaze_elleRN) May 5, 2017
Even celebrities began to join in, using their internet fame to bring light to the issue.
People are hoping that the amount of people sharing their stories will influence those who have yet to vote on the bill.
Scroll thru #IAmAPreexistingCondition posts and try not to boil with anger at those who would deny health coverage to these beautiful folks.
— Lisa Bloom (@LisaBloom) May 5, 2017
The bill has been passed by the House, but still requires a vote from the Senate to pass into law.
