New Trump Rule Allows Denial Of Coverage For Pre-Existing Conditions In Healthcare Exchanges

A new healthcare rule established by President Donald Trump‘s administration over the summer allows insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, something Barack Obama‘s signature Affordable Care Act provided.

The rule, finalized in August, permits insurers to sell off short-term plans that have durations of up to 364 days. Under Obama, those plans lasted 90 days or less.

The new plans are typically more affordable, although they don’t cover many benefits like prescription drugs, maternity care or mental health treatment that Obamacare plans covered.

The individual mandate established by the ACA has also been done away with by Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress. Therefore, Americans who don’t purchase health insurance in 2018 won’t be forced to pay a penalty.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stated the new health plans could seem appealing to temporary contractors and other employees who don’t usually obtain insurance through their jobs.

According to USA Today, 17 states have placed greater restrictions than the U.S. government regarding what types of plans are considered “qualified health plans.”

The newspaper also cited several cases of people who paid thousands of dollars in medical bills for various treatments.

A new poll showed 60 percent of Americans support Obamacare, although GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently said his party may try to repeal the law after the midterm elections.