Bart Stupak: “I am pleased health care reform passed the House of Representatives and the Congress on March 21 so 32 million more…”

“I am pleased health care reform passed the House of Representatives and the Congress on March 21 so 32 million more Americans will have access to health insurance. Americans are already realizing the benefits of this legislation. For instance, for the past few years, as chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, we have investigated the industry practice of rescission. Rescission occurs when the insurance company pores through your policy application to find any excuse to drop you from coverage when you become ill. So when you need the insurance the most, they look for an excuse to abandon you. This rescission practice used by insurance companies employ up to 1,400 different computer entries to kick out claims of people who may become seriously ill, to drop them when they are sick, and will cost the insurance companies some money. As chair of Oversight and Investigations, I have written to the largest insurance companies to stop this practice of rescission now. Under the health care legislation we passed, it says rescission practice will stop in September, but I urge the insurance companies to stop this unconscionable practice now. In America health care is a right; it's not a privilege.”