Rep. Justin Amash is a Republican congressman from Michigan and a self-described libertarian. I clipboarded this straight from his Facebook page, so these words are either his or his minion’s:
The bill does not change the ACA’s federal requirements on guaranteed issue (prohibition on policy denial), essential health benefits (minimum coverage), or community rating (prohibition on pricing based on health status). In short, Obamacare’s pre-existing conditions provisions are retained.
The latest version of the AHCA does allow any state to seek a waiver from certain insurance mandates, but such waivers are limited in scope. Guaranteed issue cannot be waived. Nobody can be treated differently based on gender. And any person who has continuous coverage—no lapse for more than 62 days—cannot be charged more regardless of health status.
Consider what this means: Even in a state that waives as much as possible, a person with a pre-existing condition cannot be prevented from purchasing insurance at the same rate as a healthy person.
Bear in mind two things, please. First, these are aspects of Trumpcare that the Congressman doesn’t like. Second, he’s confused; one look at the Trumpcare website will prove that Obamacare’s pre-existing conditions provisions are not retained.