House Dems plan vote on pre-existing conditions

WASHINGTON — House Democrats plan to hold a vote early next year on protecting health coverage for people with preexisting conditions — testing GOP commitments to such protections that many Republicans adopted during difficult re-election campaigns.

The vote would be the natural sequel to Democrats’ successful midterm strategy of focusing on health care and attacking Republicans for their attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which included landmark preexisting condition protections.

Rep. Richard Neal, DMass., who will be chairman of the Ways and Means Committee said he envisioned legislation happening immediately upon Democrats assuming control of the House that would affirm coverage for pre-existing conditions as settled law.