Cramer says individuals with preexisting conditions like cancer and asthma attempt to ‘abuse’ health care system

Congressman Cramer justifies support for Republican health care bill with incoherent and ignorant comments

(BISMARCK, N.D.) – As the House gets ready to vote on the latest version of the Republican health care plan, Kevin Cramer continues to publicly support the bill – saying the measure that guts coverage of preexisting conditions is a good thing because it penalizes individuals with preexisting conditions, preventing them from attempting to ‘game’ and ‘abuse’ the system to avoid being bankrupted by the cost of health care. In response, Robert Haider, Executive Director of the Democratic-NPL Party, released the following statement:

“Kevin Cramer’s latest comments are incoherent and ignorant as he cheers on the Republican health care provision that allows states to opt out of providing coverage for preexisting conditions – like cancer, asthma, diabetes, or women who are pregnant. They demonstrate just how out of touch Cramer is with the needs of North Dakotans, including those individuals and children with preexisting conditions who need affordable health care to avoid bankruptcy and, in some cases, to stay alive. No family should have to make a life or death choice because their health care has been ripped away. We challenge Cramer to remember the over 300,000 North Dakotans with preexisting conditions who will be hurt by this legislation and vote against it.”

Dozens of groups – including the AARP, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, National Organization for Rare Disorders, National MS Society, and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease – have come out against this legislation.

See Robert’s Medium post on Cramer’s comments: Kevin Cramer: People with preexisting conditions trying to ‘game’ and ‘abuse’ the system.