WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the U.S. Senate failed to pass an amendment offered by U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) that would have protected access to affordable health insurance for people in Maine who work in higher risk, and more often than not, rural jobs, such as forestry, farming, fishing, or public safety. Senator King released the following statement after the vote:

            “This is a disappointing blow to people who work in rural communities across Maine – our state’s fishermen, our farmers, or our forestry workers, just to name a few,” Senator King said. “Our state’s economy, indeed, its identity, is centered around folks like these who work hard day-in and day-out and want nothing more than do their job, do it well, and not have to worry about whether an accident or an illness is going to leave them stranded high-and-dry. By not approving this amendment, the Senate has failed to meet its obligation to help them. But I will not. I will continue to do everything within my power to preserve the important protections the ACA offers – because every person in Maine, regardless of their job or where they live, deserves quality, affordable health care.”

The Senate this evening voted on but did not approve – by a margin of 48-50 – an amendment offered by Senator King that would have ensured access to health insurance could not be denied or that health insurance prices could not be raised for those working in higher risk occupations, such a forestry, farming, and fishing, which are jobs most commonly found in rural Maine communities.

Prior to the ACA, it was common for health insurance companies to develop eligibility rules that either raised costs of health insurance to prohibitive levels or eliminated from eligibility workers in certain higher-risk professions. Creating barriers to health insurance for these hard working men and women not only endangers their lives and livelihood, but damages the economy; especially the rural economy, which is why this amendment would have prohibited health insurance issuers from developing group or individual health insurance plan eligibility rules that discriminate against workers based on their occupation status.

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