FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 20, 2018

Contact: Sarah Schultz, sarah.schultz@younginvincibles.org, 202.734.6510

Young People Would Be Especially Vulnerable Under Proposed Short Term Health Plans Rule

[WASHINGTON]–Today, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a proposed rule to extend the window for consumers to remain enrolled in short term health insurance plans from three months to a year. Short term plans can deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, do not have to cover the ACA’s essential health benefits, and can impose annual and/or lifetime limits on how much care they will cover. Colin Seeberger, Strategic Campaigns Director at Young Invincibles, released this statement following the release of the proposed rule:

“The Trump Administration’s proposed rule identifies young people as the most likely to enroll in, and thus be hurt by, the sale of short term plans. Most of these policies do not cover the very services young people value and utilize most: maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance use disorder services, and preventive services. Encouraging consumers to enroll in policies that do not meet their health needs is irresponsible and an abdication of advancing HHS’s mission to look out for the health and well-being of the American people. This proposal represents the Administration’s latest assault on the Affordable Care Act and builds on President Trump’s long record of increasing premiums and undermining protections for the 31 million young people in this country living with pre-existing conditions.”

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