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Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions Becomes Law

BATON ROUGE, LA – The Health Care Coverage for Louisiana Families Protection Act, bipartisan legislation pushed by Attorney General Jeff Landry to protect patients with pre-existing conditions should federal courts continue to rule the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, has become law in Louisiana.

Upon learning the Governor signed the measure into law, General Landry issued the following statement: “What an historic day for our State! Louisiana has now become the country’s leader in protecting patients with pre-existing conditions. Protecting pre-existing conditions is not partisan, it is proper. I appreciate the Governor joining our bi-partisan efforts.”

Act 412 (formerly SB 173) prohibits the denial of healthcare insurance for preexisting conditions; eliminates lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits and prohibits annual limits on the dollar value of essential benefits; allows for healthcare coverage on parent policies for any child until the age of 26; and ensures that any healthcare plan provide for essential health benefits including ambulance care, emergency services, maternity and newborn care, hospitalizations, pediatric care, and prescription drugs among others. It includes a Guaranteed Benefits Pool, which aims to help lower healthcare premiums across the board while protecting those with pre-existing conditions.

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SB 173 passed the Louisiana Senate 38-0 and the Louisiana House 90-9, and it cleared the House Insurance Committee and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee without opposition.