Todd Rokita is calling out liberal Jonathan Weinzapfel’s campaign for deliberately lying to the public on the guaranteed protections for preexisting health conditions already in state law. Multiple news outlets report that Weinzapfel’s paid spokesperson is deliberating misleading the media and the public about sections of state law governing protections for preexisting conditions.
STATEMENT BY TODD ROKITA, INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL GOP NOMINEE:
“Jonathan Weinzapfel’s attempts to present false information not only to the news media but also the public is distressing. For someone to seek the highest legal position in the state and then deliberately mislead the public about state law should make anyone question his attempt to seek this office.
Indiana state law specifically mandates preexisting conditions coverage for all Hoosiers. Indiana Law: Title 4, Article 1, Chapter 12, Section 5, states that: “(3) all other provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act concerning preexisting condition exclusions; and the protections therein and in effect on January 1, 2019, are in effect and must be enforced in Indiana, regardless of the legal status of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
(LINK http://iga.in.gov/legislative/laws/2019/ic/titles/004/#4-1-12-5)
Not only do I support this guarantee of coverage for preexisting health conditions currently in state law but I have provided innovative ideas like a Guaranteed Benefits Pool and the use of federal block grants to further bolster these protections now in place. Jonathan Weinzapfel has offered no ideas other than false fear mongering.
When the law passed news media noted preexisting conditions protections cover every health plan in Indiana. Even Democrat Party Leaders in the General Assembly at the time touted the coverage for preexisting conditions was for all Hoosiers. Jonathan Weinzapfel is in direct conflict with leaders in his own party.
Jonathan Weinzapfel should issue an apology to the news media and the public.”
BACKGROUND:
In the last few days our campaign has received multiple notifications that Jonathan Weinzapfel’s campaign has tried to point to unrelated state laws as a way of scaring the public into believing Indiana does not guarantee coverage for preexisting health conditions for everyone in Indiana. They have been pointing to laws governing state issued plans in an attempt to have the media distracted from Title 4, Article 1, Chapter 12, Section 5 which governs all healthcare plans in the state of Indiana.
The protections for preexisting conditions were put in place within the 2019 state budget bill. As noted by the NWI Times: “Other budget components include a requirement that all health insurance policies sold in Indiana cover Hoosiers with pre-existing medical conditions, regardless of the outcome of a federal lawsuit, supported by the state, that seeks to invalidate the entirety of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, including its requirement for mandatory coverage of pre-existing conditions”
(LINK https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/indiana-lawmakers-approve-new-state-budget-adjourn-annual-legislative-session/article_d7997fdd-b0db-5d1b-820b-1e951e5edbdc.html)
Democrat leaders in the General Assembly specifically highlighted the coverage of preexisting conditions for all Hoosiers in their Session wrap up in 2019: “Protecting coverage for preexisting conditions was a key tenet of the Senate Democrats’ 2019 legislative agenda. We are pleased that this coverage protection is included in the state’s budget.”
(LINK: https://www.indianasenatedemocrats.org/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-2019-edition)
Governor Holcomb also has noted these protections in various interviews including here: “A lot of folks around the country are talking about what we have done here to provide good healthcare which covers pre-existing conditions.”
(LINK: https://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/brad-byrd-in-depth-gov-holcomb-covers-a-variety-of-issues/amp/)
As late as this morning, Weinzapfel staff were sending emails to reporters making pointed, incorrect statements on state law as a follow up to pushing false law citations they previously provided an Indy TV station.
