On the recordMay 9, 2019
I would just say that section 1332 does not permit States to waive preexisting condition protections, period. And I would, again, cite the guidance from the CMS director, Ms. Seema Verma, where she states that. And that will be in the Record. Again, I think what we are trying to do here is give States more flexibility to bring down the cost of health insurance, while following these guidelines as outlined. As I mentioned earlier in the debate, high deductibles are pricing people out of coverage, and by that, I mean they are walking away from getting the care that they need because they can't pay for it; or they are driving up their credit card debt, wiping out their savings, they are having to take another job, they are borrowing money from others. So, what the Trump administration is trying to do is build on what the Obama administration created, 1332 waivers, that have, frankly, been very successful in many, many States. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
