Longjohn Lays Out Healthcare Differences With Upton

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Congressman Fred Upton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, claiming it isn’t working. But a record number of people signed up for it in 2018 and the ACA has cut the number of uninsured by more than 20 million. Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Matt Longjohn also says the law guarantees essential health benefit everyone needs but that Upton voted to repeal.

“He was willing to waive coverage for pre-existing conditions,” Longjohn tells WSJM News. “He was willing to waive coverage for essential health benefits. He was willing for insurance companies to be able to sell junk to people.”

Longjohn says while healthcare costs still have to be reduced, the Affordable Care Act is delivering real value for patients.

“The affordability in the Affordable Care Act has not been working, but the patient protections part of that law have been working.”

Upton has said he wants to protect coverage for pre-existing conditions and keep Healthy Michigan under the Affordable Care Act. But Longjohn says that’s not enough. He says under the “Trumpcare” bill for which Upton voted, 23 million people would have lost health insurance over ten years. That bill passed the U.S. House but failed in the Senate.