WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott announced his co-sponsorship of Senator Thom Tillis’s Protect Act, which protects Americans with pre-existing conditions so they can get the healthcare coverage they need. Senator Scott has been clear that keeping the pre-existing provisions and letting young adults stay on their parents' plans until they turn 26 are important components of any healthcare reform. Last month, Senator Scott introduced and passed an amendment to the Senate’s budget resolution to make sure those with pre-existing conditions are covered.

Senator Rick Scott said, “It is absolutely necessary that we protect people with pre-existing conditions. This is personal for me. I remember my mom, who didn’t have insurance, struggling to find care for my brother who had a serious disease. She eventually found a charity hospital four hours away where he could get treatment. I’m proud to co-sponsor Senator Tillis’s bill that guarantees protections for pre-existing conditions. No matter what happens in the courts, it’s imperative that we guarantee these protections and continue working to reduce healthcare costs for American families.”

READ MORE ABOUT THE PROTECT ACT HERE.

The Protect Act amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to:

• Guarantee the availability of health insurance coverage in the individual or group market, regardless of pre-existing conditions;
• Prohibit discrimination against patients based on health status – including prohibiting increased premiums for patients due to pre-existing conditions; and
• Prohibit insurance companies from excluding coverage of treatments for a beneficiary’s pre-existing condition.