Walsh-Supported Law to Protect Residents with Pre-existing Conditions to Take Effect Jan. 1

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As President Donald Trump and Washington politicians continue debating changes to federal healthcare policy, a new law sponsored by state Rep. Larry Walsh, Jr., D-Elwood, and taking effect Jan. 1, 2018, will ensure all individuals with pre-existing conditions will continue to have access to health insurance in Illinois, regardless of changes made at the federal level.

“As Donald Trump and Republicans in Washington continue to advocate for reckless changes to healthcare, I acted by passing state-level protections to ensure those with pre-existing conditions will still be able to have access to affordable healthcare,” Walsh said. “Without this new law, millions of Illinoisans would be at risk of losing their health insurance if Trumpcare is passed.”

House Bill 2959 amends the state’s insurance code to prevent individual or group accidental health insurance coverage companies from imposing pre-existing condition exclusions. The proposal was drafted in the wake of proposed changes to healthcare on the federal level by Congressional Republicans. House Bill 2959 received bipartisan support in passage.

“I worked across party lines to ensure that regardless of what happens in Washington, mothers and fathers across Illinois will no longer have to worry if their son or daughter who has a pre-existing condition will lose their health insurance,” Walsh said. “I will continue fighting to protect Illinois families’ right to be able to have access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.”