By BRUCE SCHREINER
Associated Press
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Gov. Andy Beshear tried on Tuesday to jump start a bill that would prevent health insurers from denying coverage due to preexisting medical conditions.
The bill's supporters said there's a growing sense of urgency to pass the legislation. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide a lawsuit that threatens the Obama-era federal health care law guaranteeing health coverage for people with preexisting conditions.
The state needs a backup law to maintain that coverage in the event the Affordable Care Act is struck down, they said. Beshear noted that about 1.8 million Kentuckians have preexisting conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and cancer.
"If we pass House Bill 21, Kentuckians will no longer have to worry," the governor said. "They will know that in their state we support their health care. That we are looking out after them."
The bill was introduced in early January but has stalled in the House Banking and Insurance Committee. Democratic Rep. Patti Minter, the bill's lead sponsor, said it's "unconscionable" for lawmakers to potentially expose people to losing health coverage due to preexisting conditions.
"We hear folks from all different sides of the aisle saying we support coverage for preexisting conditions," Beshear said. "Now's the time to prove it."
