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