Thread by @SenBobCasey

In case you don’t have time to read the FIFTY PAGE filing from DOJ about how they want to gut health care for millions of Americans, here are the cliff notes.

1/?

Page 2 essentially says that the Trump Administration believes that insurance companies should be able to deny coverage to people if they’re sick. It also says that they should be able to charge people MORE MONEY when they are sick! That is cruel. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Page 3 says “it is the position of the United States that…the ACA… must be struck down.” Last time I checked, the position of Pennsylvanians and people across the country is quite the opposite. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Starting on page 5, there is a list of the ways that the ACA protects patients. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Here is a brief recap of those protections:
•Protects people with pre-existing conditions
•Eliminates annual and lifetime caps on coverage
•Allows individuals to shop for insurance

•Provides people who need it with assistance to afford coverage
•Prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men for coverage
•Covers preventive care at no out of pocket costs

On page 8, there begins a LENGTHY description of why the Supreme Court UPHELD the law. 🤷‍♂️casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Page 13 is where things start to get juicy. It describes how Republicans in Congress and President Trump gave $1.5 trillion in tax cuts to the rich while setting up for the DOJ to help repeal the law.

casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

On page 18, it reminds everyone *spoiler alert* that the district court (wrongfully, imho) concluded that the health care coverage and consumer protections that the ACA provided to millions of Americans “is invalid in its entirety.” casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Page 20 reminds people again that the Republican tax law is what may ultimately rip away health care coverage for millions of people. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

And SPECIFICALLY MENTIONS that this would include protections for people with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage or charged more. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

The bottom of Page 23 starts to catalog an individual who wanted to purchase a high-deductible health plan instead of comprehensive coverage established in the ACA. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

As a reminder, here is what happens in high-deductible health plans: npr.org/sections/healt…

(The Trump Administration is now allowing these types of junk policies to be considered coverage.)

Page 29 reminds us ONCE AGAIN that the SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES upheld the ACA as constitutional. Sorry. I am usually not a yeller. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

On page 30, we return to the plot line that describes how we got to this place: Republicans supported and Signed into law a massive tax cut for the rich and fostered an environment for a lawsuit to rip away coverage for millions. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

(Lots of Republicans have said that this was not their intent, but *surprise* actions have consequences.)

There is an entire heading on page 36 written in BOLD LETTERS that explains how the Trump DoJ is arguing that because of Republican tax law, insurance companies should be able to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charge them more. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Oh, and that section goes on for a few pages.

On page 43, the document explains why they feel the rest of the law must be struck down. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

If you missed the earlier reminder, here is what else is at stake if that happens.

Annual and lifetime caps on coverage, the ability to SHOP for coverage, assistance to afford coverage, coverage that costs the same for men and women, preventive care at no out of pocket costs. Shall I continue?

The Affordable Care Act also makes sure that coverage is meaningful. That means it will actually be there for you when you need it for:

1.Ambulatory patient services (outpatient services)
2.Emergency services
3.Hospitalization
4.Maternity and newborn care

5.Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6.Prescription drugs
7.Rehabilitative and habilitative services (those that help patients acquire, maintain, or improve skills necessary for daily functioning) and devices

8. Laboratory services
9. Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
10. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

There is more, but you get the point.

The filing concludes on page 50 with a “respectful” submission from the Assistant Attorney General. casey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/…

Sir, you are not fooling anyone. This document is, at best, disrespectful to the millions of people in Pennsylvania and across the country who have gained health care coverage and protections through the law.

/thread