The White House on Wednesday sided with Jimmy Kimmel, who made an emotional plea on his TV show for a health care law that guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions.
“We share that concern for the Kimmel child and frankly any child that needs care,” said White House press secretary Sean Spicer. “That’s why we are fighting so hard for this.”
He said that President Trump also seconded Mr. Kimmel’s statement that “we need things that aren’t Republican or Democrat but things that are American policies.”
Mr. Kimmel on Monday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on ABC got choked up as he recounted how his son was born with a heart condition and required open-heart surgery. He said his child would always have a pre-existing condition and shouldn’t have to worry about getting health coverage.
“It was the longest three hours of my life,” he said of waiting outside the operating room at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The operation was a success.
Former President Obama also weighed in on Mr. Kimmel’s monologue.
“Well said, Jimmy. That’s exactly why we fought so hard for the ACA, and why we need to protect it for kids like Billy. And congratulations!” he tweeted.
Coverage for pre-existing conditions, which is one of the most popular measures of Obamacare, has become a flashpoint in Republican efforts to repeal and replace the law.
A new amendment to the replacement bill would add $8 billion in federal funds to reduce premiums and out-of-pocket costs for people who are already sick and experienced a gap in coverage. The change has attracted more GOP support.
The president has argued that the current coverage mandate will be rendered meaningless as the Obamacare law collapses, with insurers pulling out of the system and premiums skyrocketing.
“If you have a card that says you have Obamacare but you don’t have a provider or can’t afford premiums, you don’t have coverage,” Mr. Spicer said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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