HB774

February 19, 2025 House Commerce Committee Testimony HB774-FN Honorable Jennifer Coffey Good Afternoon Chairman Hunt and Honorable members of the Commerce Committee. It’s serial in part to sit here as I once served as Chairman Hunt’s Vice-Chair. I come before you today on a human issue, not a partisan one. President Trump and President Obama both have said pre-existing conditions should not be held against someone for the sale of health insurance. The law at the federal level states as such but leaves out two segments of our society, not by race or gender but by existence. In New Hampshire, it is legal to discriminate against the elderly and disabled for the sale of Medicare supplemental policies, we have an opportunity to change that. To close this loophole in NH law. This aspect of insurance has been left to states' rights. New Hampshire wouldn’t be the first to even the playing field and make the insurance companies compete for its members rather than members being trapped in plans for life. I was sick when I was serving with you, I just didn’t know it. Cancer has had its way in my family and I’ve now beat it twice, but I didn’t get away clean. After breast cancer in 2013, I developed a number of rare illnesses. I have CRPS and Small Fiber Neuropathy. CRPS is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome also known as the “suicide disease.” It’s the most painful disease known to modern medicine. The level of sheer torture causes 70% of people young and old to consider suicide. They shouldn’t have to go there when there are treatments available but health insurance deny access. When I first found out about treatment the cost of it led to me nearly signing my DNR. You see, I made a big mistake when I was at the lowest point in life. I gave up traditional Medicare for Medicare (dis) Advantage. It was supposed to cover everything Medicare did but that and a lot of other things are lies. Should we be forced to die from one wrong choice? For the first few years of receiving the infusions that allowed me to end my over two-year bed confinement, I paid out of pocket for everything. I sold everything and even resorted to GoFundMe to access the care I continue to need to live. We suffered two massive hits in our home back to back. One of our vehicles was totaled in a drive-by shooting and then our rent went up $400 all at once. We were on the verge of homelessness so I started rationing my infusions. I was declining and had reached the point of talking to my neurologist about what he called the “drug of last resort.” In an act of desperation, I decided to go after my so-called “health insurance” and demand they cover my treatments. Others had coverage across the country, so why not me? I choose to go public and join the People’s Action Care Over Cost Campaign. I learned countless millions are suffering due to delays and denials of care. People languish in pure torture while prior authorization requests are denied, or you get the prior authorization and they then refuse to pay the bill. Or worse they simply refuse to even let your doctor bill for service. In my case where a small clause in their contract allows providers to charge cash and insurance to take a walk on what is life-saving treatment. Medicare Advantage preys on consumer ignorance and I sit here after the work I did with you, one of those ignorant people. They sold me a product and said it covered everything Medicare does but left out the part about having to fight to get that care. I have no doubt every member of this committee has heard the horrible statistics of healthcare denial rates. What’s sicker is that somewhere around 80% of those denied healthcare services are overruled on appeal but only about 1% of people appeal because you have to do it in a 19th-century way, through snail mail and letters. We live in the 21st century yet when I helped present demands to United Healthcare in their own Minassota lobby to create an electronic appeals process, they refused. I know United Healthcare’s own Stockholders are demanding change as are Americans both Republican and Democrat. They are tired of the fleecing of America. My insurer, United Healthcare, takes hundreds of billions of dollars in public money & profits by denying people care. Last year they received a nearly 4% increase in their medicare dollars yet, they raised premiums, took away dental care, and reduced other services this year so they could still make over 400 Billion dollars in revenue. By the way, they make about 8 Billion dollars in profit a quarter! So they increase their income and medical services are taken away. Meanwhile, New Hampshire citizens of all party affiliations are trapped in Medicare Advantage plans, left with scraps of healthcare and we deserve better than that. Chairman Hunt, I was a Dana-Farber Cancer patient, United Healthcare made me leave. Out of network. I had to get help again from Senator Hassan to fix that bill that despite law was paid half in and half out of network. It was my routine breast cancer screening that under Medicare is supposed to be covered in full. Let me share just one piece of my story. There is one specialist in NH that has all the treatments I need and most importantly is skilled in treating my rare disorders. He was in-network when I started going there but like all medicare advantage plans, they can change that any day of any month of the year. We get a month or two to pick for the year and when they change the rules midstream, too bad for you. For almost two years now I have had to go to Senator Hassan’s office to have a complaint filed with CMS to get attention from United Healthcare to grant me a prior authorization for care, to get them to pay the bill after treatment, and to continue to get access to care despite their letter of necessity. I don’t understand why United Healthcare has this provider in their network for plans EXCEPT for Medicare Advantage plans. They admit they not only have a network to offer as federal law states, but they don’t have a single provider to send me to. At one point in this mess, they even tried to send me to a closed clinic and I am not allowed to cross state lines in-network. Just recently we thought maybe they would finally fix the issue but they gave my provider less than two business days to comply with records they have sent to them over and over and over showing I am still not cured. Though I begged them to at least give the doctor a week to comply they went ahead and denied me again, and told me to appeal it. So there is another complaint going into CMS, this is just cruelty. I will personally never understand why they don’t just fix this issue for me so I stop talking about it, but perhaps stressing me to death is a better option. At least that’s the way it feels after so much hell while still trying to have a life worth living. I could have never imagined as a first responder ending up living like this. Politicians are told that Medicare Advantage is so good more people are on it than traditional. What they are not told is people are trapped. They can’t go back to traditional Medicare unless they are able to pay 20% of every bill. No one will sell a supplemental to someone with pre-existing conditions or if they are willing, the premiums are exorbitant and the pre-existing conditions will go uncovered. All citizens in New Hampshire are protected against pre-existing condition denials of insurance except the elderly and disabled. If you're born with a heart condition no one can hold it against you until you're 65 or cancer gets you. Only in America do people make hard money choices on whether to eat or buy medication, rationing their care to try to survive. That’s grotesque and not the lives we have all paid in for. All of you have a chance to be healthcare heroes and save lives at this moment. The choice is yours.

Please support HB 774 - FN requiring Medicare Supplement Plans to cover preexisting conditions

In the rest of the developed world, "pre-existing conditions" is a term that doesn't exist, because it just means, "your medical history" Please support this bill; it's outrageous that insurance companies can refuse to pay for our medical care just because a health issue is ongoing.

This is very important for our seniors—especially if the requirement that preexisting conditions be covered is removed by the feds.

Pre-existing conditions must be covered, it is unfair to expect someone who needs to go onto Medicare to have to pay for care that was once covered by their previous insurance.

It is ridiculous to allow insurance companies serving the elderly to not allow pre-existing conditions. Just about all those over 65 yrs have some sort of pre-existing condition whether mild, moderate or severe. Why have such an insurance plan at all ?? That is the purpose of basic Medicare and supplemental plans - to help pay for medical care for the elderly.

Dear Members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, I am writing to express my strong support for House Bill 774, which mandates that Medicare supplemental policies cover pre-existing conditions. This legislation is crucial for ensuring that our senior citizens and disabled individuals have uninterrupted access to necessary healthcare services, regardless of their medical history. 1. Protecting Vulnerable Populations: Many beneficiaries of Medicare are older adults or individuals with disabilities who often have pre-existing health conditions. Without supplemental coverage for these conditions, they may face significant out-of-pocket expenses, leading to financial hardship and potential delays in seeking essential medical care. HB 774 addresses this issue by prohibiting Medicare supplement policies from excluding or limiting benefits due to pre-existing conditions. legiscan.com 2. Promoting Fairness and Equity: By requiring that all Medicare supplemental policies provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, this bill ensures that all beneficiaries have equal access to comprehensive healthcare coverage. This move promotes fairness and prevents discrimination based on an individual's health history. 3. Aligning with Federal Protections: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) established important protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions in the broader health insurance market. However, gaps remain in the coverage provided by Medicare supplemental policies. HB 774 seeks to close these gaps, aligning state policy with the intent of federal protections and ensuring that Medicare beneficiaries receive the comprehensive coverage they need. 4. Enhancing Public Health Outcomes: Ensuring that pre-existing conditions are covered encourages beneficiaries to seek timely medical attention, leading to better health outcomes and potentially reducing the long-term costs associated with untreated conditions. This proactive approach benefits not only the individuals directly affected but also the broader healthcare system. In conclusion, House Bill 774 represents a necessary step toward safeguarding the health and financial well-being of New Hampshire's Medicare beneficiaries. I urge the committee to support this legislation and ensure its swift passage. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Katie DeAngelis

Just about every single one of our senior citizens and many who are younger have pre-existing conditions. You in our state government will also suffer the same at some point in your life. Everyone should have pre-existing conditions covered. It is shameful to consider hurting your own people, the ones who have elected you.

To the Members of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee, It is frightening to live in a time when politicians, without any medical expertise, want to stand between me and what could be life-saving medical care. We have seen across the country how health care providers are chilled by legislation attacking reproductive care. Women must wait until they go into sepsis before they can receive health care. Women who have an ectopic pregnancy may be denied an abortion because legislators who, once again with no medical expertise, do not understand the need for full reproductive healthcare. I heartily support this measure that would protect New Hampshire women by acknowledging that abortion is indeed part of critical, comprehensive reproductive healthcare. Respectfully, Alison Thatcher

I strongly support this bill and believe that pre-existing conditions need to be covered.

Medicare supplemental policies should absolutely cover pre-existing conditions, other wise huge numbers of people will not get adequate care. Again, as state elsewhere, if you are “pro-life”, then support those who are living, and especially those who are already living with a pre-existing condition over which they have no control.

Supplemental Medicare should cover pre existing conditions

As a mother, daughter to elderly parents, wife to someone with a disability, I oppose this bill. We must not go backwards.

I strongly support this bill.

I use Medicare Advantage and support this bill.

I use Medicare Advantage and support this bill.

Previously existing conditions should be covered by Medicare supplementary policies. These companies must truly provide health insurance for all their insured whether the condition existed before or not. That’s what “healthcare” is all about!

This is just dumb.

This bill is important to seniors who don’t want an advantage plan.

Hello, Please support HB774. I am an experienced Medicare Counselor with seven years experience. MA plans are often very quick to deny coverage and will often automatically deny medical coverage just to avoid costs. Most Medicare beneficiaries really do not even understand the real differences between Original Medicare and MA plans because it is complex and there is so much heavy marketing of the plans that often they have no idea what they are walking away from or how challenging it can be to change coverage. There needs to be a lot more protection for Medicare beneficiaries in MA plans. Most beneficiaries are told they can get a Medigap plan if they leave a MA plan within 1 year but often are not able to leave the plan due to there not being an enrollment period. Most of the experience I have heard over the years on MA plans is that beneficiaries are not covered and cannot get the coverage they need and are denied care their doctors say they need. Medicare beneficiaries are struggling to understand the rules the MA plans have that require beneficiaries to stay within network and get prior authorization. It is heartbreaking. We must fight to protect Original Medicare as it comes with many more protections that MA plans( not to mention saving money for the Medicare trust fund). The Center for Medicare Advocacy has a lot of information regarding this topic. I am happy to talk to you if you would like. Please feel free to reach out if I can be of any assistance. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Have a wonderful day, Lori Raymond

I advocate for fairness in the insurance industry. I have just retired and signed up for Medicare. The choices and options were extremely confusing and unsupportive. There were few clear choices. As we have worked out entire lives and paid our taxes, we deserve to have health care that is affordable, fair, and accessible. There should not be barriers to getting health care.

Yes. I support this, but quite frankly ALL insurance should be required to cover pre-existing conditions.

As someone with MS, it is critical that I, and others like me, are not punished for having been diagnosed with a disease. Please support this bill covering pre-existing conditions. Thank you.

Pre-existing conditions should not disqualify people from being covered by insurance we have paid into all our working lives.