# Plain Language Summary: Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2021

This bill is designed to protect people with pre-existing health conditions from being denied health insurance or charged more because of their medical history. Specifically, it prohibits insurance companies from refusing to cover medical conditions that existed before someone signs up for a health plan, and it prevents insurers from charging higher premiums based on someone's health status, medical history, genetic information, or disability.

The bill applies to both group health insurance (coverage through employers) and individual health insurance (plans people buy on their own). It also requires insurance companies to make coverage available to anyone who applies, rather than allowing them to cherry-pick only the healthiest customers. Additionally, the law restricts insurance companies from requiring genetic testing or using genetic information to make coverage decisions, though it allows doctors to order genetic tests as part of medical care. The bill does permit wellness programs—like gym membership reimbursements or smoking cessation programs—as long as they don't unfairly penalize people with health conditions.

However, there's a critical catch: this entire bill only takes effect if Congress passes separate legislation that completely repeals the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and restores the health insurance laws that existed before it. Since the Affordable Care Act already includes many of these same protections for pre-existing conditions, this bill essentially serves as a replacement framework. If the ACA is repealed, this bill would kick in to ensure those protections don't disappear. If the ACA remains in place, this bill has no effect whatsoever.

Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2021

McMorris Rodgers, Cathy

Pre-existing Conditions Protection Act of 2021 This bill reestablishes requirements for private health insurance plans with respect to preexisting conditions, guaranteed enrollment, and discrimination based on health-related factors if they are repealed by another law. In such event, the bill prohibits private health insurance plans from (1) limiting or excluding benefits covering preexisting conditions; (2) denying enrollment to employers or individual applicants, subject to specified limits; (3) establishing rules for eligibility based on an individual's health status; or (4) requiring an individual to a pay higher premium than similarly situated individuals enrolled in the plan based the individual's health status. The bill also prohibits plans from collecting genetic information in connection with issuing health insurance and provides requirements for workplace wellness programs connected to health insurance.