For Immediate Release: July 21, 2008
Sutton Fights to Maintain Health Coverage for Patients with Chronic Diseases
WASHINGTON,
DC - Congresswoman Betty Sutton
(D-OH) is continuing her work to improve our nation's healthcare system by
helping to introduce the Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act.
This legislation - sponsored by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) - raises the
lifetime health insurance cap to $10 million, allowing people with high health
care costs to maintain private insurance.
Many people with chronic diseases surpass their
lifetime health insurance caps, leaving them with few options to pay for
treatment. Patients are often forced to turn to state programs, seek free
care at hospitals, or delay treatment, leading to higher costs down the road.
The Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act allows people to maintain
their own health coverage and receive the treatment they need.
"Living with a chronic illness or disability is a
heavy burden for anyone, but for too many Americans it also means living in
constant fear of losing health coverage. It is unacceptable that people are
changing jobs or even moving to a new state so they can switch insurance plans.
Other people are quitting work all together so they can access Medicaid," said
Congresswoman Sutton. "This legislation will address these problems, increasing
the minimum lifetime cap to allow individuals with high medical costs to
maintain private health insurance. I commend my colleague Anna Eshoo for her
leadership on this issue and I look forward to working with her to pass this
important measure."
Contact: Erin Donar at 202-225-3401 or Erin.Donar@mail.house.gov