Political Quotes

“I rise today to address one of the biggest concerns facing everyday families in Arizona: making healthcare more affordable and maintaining critical healthcare protections. Sometimes the issues discussed on the Senate floor appear far removed from the concerns of everyday Americans, but not today. Today's debate focuses the Senate's attention on the most important issue for many Arizonans and offers elected officials the opportunity to reject partisan political games in favor of commonsense solutions. Not long ago, insurance companies were allowed to deny care or overcharge Americans based on the fact that those Americans had been sick before or had been born with a chronic condition. Arizonans who had been previously treated for skin cancer or diabetes were told that no insurance company would cover them or that the insurance plans they purchased would not cover their preexisting conditions, despite promises of comprehensive coverage. Beyond major illnesses, Arizonans with even common conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, and even acne, were denied the coverage they needed. Until recently, insurance companies had also been allowed to charge consumers high prices for insurance plans only to leave out coverage for essential health benefits that virtually all Americans eventually need, such as prescription drug costs, ambulance costs, and hospital stays--critical needs that consumers rightly expect will be covered.…”