WEINZAPFEL URGES ROKITA TO PROTECT THOSE WITH COVID-19

Today, Jonathan Weinzapfel, Democratic nominee for Attorney General, urged his opponent to join him in pledging to safeguard the health care of those exposed to COVID-19 by removing Indiana from a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.

“Every day more and more Hoosiers are being exposed to the virus. That means they are joining the ranks of those classified as having a pre-existing condition,” said Weinzapfel. “If this lawsuit is successful, all protections for those with a pre-existing condition will be wiped away. That means Hoosiers could be immediately dumped by their carriers, they could be denied future coverage, or they could be charged astronomical rates for coverage in the future.”

Under incumbent Attorney General Curtis Hill, Indiana joined a federal lawsuit (California v. Texas) seeking to destroy the Affordable Care Act. If the lawsuit is successful, insurance companies could deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions once again. This would impact the more than 2.7 million Hoosiers living with pre-existing conditions and the more than 53,000 who have already been exposed to COVID-19.

While Weinzapfel opposes the lawsuit, the Republican nominee, former senate candidate, gubernatorial candidate, four-term congressman and secretary of state Todd Rokita has steadfastly supported it, despite the severe harm it could do to the state’s families.

“Hoosiers are worried about the health and safety of their families, their jobs, if their kids can return to school, paying their bills and so many other things. They shouldn’t have to worry about losing health care coverage in the middle of a pandemic too,” added Weinzapfel, a former Evansville mayor. “Congressman Rokita should put his DC talking points aside and join me in urging Curtis Hill to drop this lawsuit. And, if Curtis Hill won’t do it, Congressman Rokita should join me in pledging to remove Indiana from it if elected.” 

In addition to the lawsuit’s potential impact to Hoosiers with pre-existing conditions, it also seeks to strip away coverage of approximately 168,000 Hoosier families who use the ACA to access health care and would end coverage for more than 500,000 others who currently receive it though Indiana’s HIP 2.0 Plan.

“Dropping out of this lawsuit – especially now – is the right thing to do. Hoosiers health care shouldn’t be put in jeopardy over partisan politics or political ideology. I hope Congressman Rokita does the right thing and joins me in this effort”