Coloradans Need to Know the Facts About Cory Gardner’s Record on Pre-Existing Conditions - John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate

Coloradans Need to Know the Facts About Cory Gardner’s Record on Pre-Existing Conditions

September 15, 2020

When it comes to protecting their health care coverage, Coloradans shouldn’t get conned by Cory.

Cory Gardner introduced a bill he claims would protect Coloradans’ health care, but experts say it would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and is a political stunt. 

Regardless of what Gardner says now, his record is clear. Gardner has repeatedly opposed protecting insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. He has said pre-existing medical conditions should not be required to be covered in health care reform, has voted repeatedly to gut those protections, and has taken over $1.1 million in campaign donations from drug and insurance companies. Gardner is even still supporting the lawsuit that could eliminate coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Get the facts:

Cory Gardner introduced a bill he claims would protect Coloradans’ health care, but experts say it would allow insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and is a political stunt. 

  • Gardner’s bill “would still allow health insurance companies to deny people coverage.” – Colorado Sun
  • Kaiser Family Foundation’s Larry Levitt: “Gardner falls well short of providing comprehensive protections for people with pre-existing conditions.” – 9News
  • 9News’ Kyle Clark called the bill “actually horse excrement.” – 9News
  • Colorado Consumer Health Initiative’s Adam Fox called the bill “a political stunt.”  – Colorado Times Recorder
  • Gardner received “Four Pinnochios” for his claims of protecting pre-existing conditions. – Washington Post Fact Checker

Regardless of what Gardner says now, his record is clear. Gardner has repeatedly opposed protecting insurance coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

  • Gardner repeatedly voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
    • 2015: Gardner effectively voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [CQ, 7/26/15; The Hill, 7/26/15; S.Amdt. 2328 to S.Amdt. 2327 to S.Amdt. 2266 to H.R. 22, Senate Vote 253, 7/26/15]
    • 2013: Gardner voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [CQ, 5/16/13; HR.45, Vote 154, 5/16/13]
    • 2012: Gardner voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [CQ, 7/11/12; HR.6079, Vote 460, 7/11/12]
    • 2011: Gardner voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [CQ, 1/19/11; HR.2, Vote 14, 1/19/11]
  • “Gardner has been voting to repeal, defund or replace the ACA since 2011, the year after its passage” and he received “Four Pinnochios” for his claims of protecting pre-existing conditions. – Washington Post Fact Checker
  • “PolitiFact has repeatedly determined that a vote to repeal the ACA in full would have stripped coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.” – PolitiFact

He has said pre-existing medical conditions should not be required to be covered in health care reform and has voted repeatedly to gut those protections.

  • In 2010, Gardner answered “no” when asked whether coverage for pre-existing conditions should be covered in any health care reform.
  • “Gardner has been voting to repeal, defund or replace the ACA since 2011, the year after its passage” and he received “Four Pinnochios” for his claims of protecting pre-existing conditions. – Washington Post Fact Checker
  • “PolitiFact has repeatedly determined that a vote to repeal the ACA in full would have stripped coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.” – PolitiFact

Gardner has taken over $1.1 million in campaign donations from drug and insurance companies.

Gardner is even still supporting the lawsuit that could eliminate coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

  • Gardner when asked if he supported the lawsuit to repeal the Affordable Care Act called it “an unconstitutional law.” – The Hill
  • If the Trump Administration’s lawsuit was successful, millions “could be charged more or denied coverage altogether because they have a pre-existing condition or would lose other important protections.” – Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
  • If the Affordable Care Act were struck down, “people with preexisting conditions will once again face discrimination from insurance companies.” – Center for American Progress