ACAP Recognizes Sen. Tammy Baldwin with 2020 Congressional Leadership Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, 202-704-2514; jvanness@communityplans.net

ACAP RECOGNIZES SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN WITH 2020 CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

WASHINGTON—Today, the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) recognized Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) with its Congressional Leadership Award. The award is given to a Member of Congress who demonstrates a commitment to protecting and strengthening programs vital to the health and well-being of people with low incomes.

Senator Baldwin has been a leading voice in Congress in speaking out against short-term, limited-duration “junk” health insurance plans; her leadership on the issue is highlighted by her sponsorship of S. 1556, the No Junk Plans Act – a bill which would prohibit the implementation of rules that would allow short-term plans to be sold as comprehensive, year-long insurance products. The bill, introduced along with Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL), is cosponsored by the entire Democratic caucus in the U.S. Senate.

More recently, Senator Baldwin has called upon the Trump Administration to cover costs related to treatment for COVID-19 for people enrolled in junk plans, citing the high financial liabilities with which enrollees in these substandard plans are often saddled. A high-profile case in March involved a man enrolled in an STLDI who was left with thousands of dollars in bills until news stories shamed the plan into finally providing coverage for COVID-19 screening and associated charges.

“I’ve heard story after story from Wisconsinites who want to know why President Trump continues trying to overturn the Affordable Care Act completely, which would raise health care costs and take away guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing health conditions,” said Senator Baldwin. “Anyone who says they support health care coverage for people with pre-existing conditions should support my No Junk Plans Act and call on the Trump administration to stop sabotaging our health care system. Now is the time for Congress to work together to protect people’s health care when they need it most, and I’m grateful to ACAP for their partnership in our work trying to expand access to quality, affordable health care.”

“Junk insurance plans bring back all the dysfunction in the individual health insurance market that the Affordable Care Act was meant to address,” said ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray. “We are grateful for Senator Baldwin’s leadership in fighting for essential health benefits, fighting against discrimination on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions, and fighting against deliberate unraveling of our health insurance market. We’re proud to recognize her today.”

The award was presented in conjunction with ACAP’s annual CEO Summit. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.

About ACAP:
ACAP represents 77 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 20 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.

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