Hernandez Urging Governor to Sign Protections for People with Pre-existing Conditions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Committed to ensuring that no one be denied care because of their medical history, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, member of the Latino Caucus, is urging Governor Rauner to sign bipartisan protections for Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions that were passed by the General Assembly at the end of May.

“While Trump and his extreme allies in Congress have for now failed to force through their dangerous and irresponsible changes to federal law, it doesn’t mean that the fight to protect access to health care is over,” Hernandez said. “So at the state-level we must be proactive and bring about much needed peace of mind to the millions of Illinoisans who stand to lose their coverage if federal law is radically changed by an agenda that would deny people care because of a pre-existing condition.”

Hernandez backed state-level protections for people with pre-existing conditions like cancer, diabetes or heart disease at the end of the spring legislative session. Millions of Illinoisans have a pre-existing condition, and Hernandez’s House Bill 2959 would prevent insurance companies selling policies in Illinois from discriminating against those most in need of care, regardless of what happens in Washington.

“Health care is one of the most important and personal aspects of a person’s life and it’s unacceptable that Governor Rauner has yet to speak out against the efforts to make it less accessible,” Hernandez said. “If we truly want to make is easier for working families to succeed, we must work like never before to expand access to quality and affordable health care to all people. And with all of the chaos coming out of Washington, this legislation is a first step in the right direction, so I urge the governor to sign it into law.”

House Bill 2959 passed the House and Senate with veto-prove majorities, and has been sitting on Gov. Rauner’s for 22 days awaiting his consideration.

State Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez is a member of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and represents the 24th District, which includes Cicero, Little Village, Berwyn, Brookfield, Riverside, and Stickney.