CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Senate rejected on Wednesday a resolution to stop the Trump administration from allowing health insurance plans not previously permitted under former President Barack Obama’s health care law.
In a 43-52 vote, the Senate voted to allow the policy to continue, in which states will be allowed to offer chepaer plans Democrats have said would not protect individuals with pre-existing conditions or other benefits.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., co-sponsored the resolution as did the other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Manchin said the resolution would have protected around 800,000 West Virginians with a pre-existing condition.
“These misleading junk insurance plans can deny coverage to West Virginians with pre-existing conditions and don’t have to provide essential health services like prescription drugs, emergency room visits and maternity care,” he said in a statement.
“I have always said and will continue to say that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is not perfect, and we need to fix it, but over 20 million Americans and over 200,000 West Virginians gained access to healthcare because of the ACA.”
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., opposed the resolution. Maine Sen. Susan Collins was the only Republican who voted for the measure.