Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Bob Casey (D-PA), introduced the “No Junk Plans Act.” This legislation would overturn a Trump-era rule that expanded junk insurance plans. Senator Casey released an oversight report in October of 2019 which found that misleading advertisements through online search engines are also helping to funnel individuals into “junk” health insurance coverage. Often, these ads portray the junk coverage as comprehensive, or attempt to trick consumers into thinking that they link to a government site like Healthcare.gov. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:
“Protect Our Care applauds Senators Baldwin, Stabenow, and Casey for their leadership on the No Junk Plans Act and wholeheartedly endorse this important bill. This legislation protects consumers from enrolling in misleading junk plans that skirt vital consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act and do not provide the care people need. As we continue to battle the coronavirus, it’s more important than ever that Americans have comprehensive coverage that includes protections for people with pre-existing conditions. With the expansion of low or no cost coverage under the American Rescue Plan, these junk plans not only provide less coverage, but may cost more than coverage currently available on the marketplace.”