Whitmer signs bills to codify Affordable Care Act into state law

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer crossed one item off her to-do list Thursday when she signed bills to place in state law the key health care protections secured by the federal Affordable Care Act.

Whitmer called it one of her top priorities in a speech laying out her legislative agenda before lawmakers returned to Lansing from their break. "This fall, let's codify the commonsense cost-saving measures of the ACA, including protections for pre-existing conditions, so you can't be charged more for having cancer, diabetes or being pregnant," she said then, prompting applause.

Lawmakers heeded Whitmer's call and sent the legislation to her desk before the end of the year.

The package of bills passed with bipartisan support and would essentially add to state law the key pieces of former President Barack Obama's signature health care law. One bill bars insurers from denying insurance to individuals based on their gender; gender identity or expression; or sexual orientation. It would expand the current prohibition on insurers from charging different rates for the same coverage.

Others ban insurers from denying coverage to someone with a preexisting condition, allow young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until they're 26 years old, prohibit insurers from imposing annual or lifetime caps on essential services and require coverage for certain services such as hospitalization.

The legislative package approved by Whitmer also mandates insurers provide a summary of their coverage, bar insurers from rescinding coverage and specify the level of coverage an insurer would have to offer in Michigan.

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Whitmer's office described the legislation as a way to ensure Michigan residents can continue to count on the federal health care protections in the event Congress or the U.S. Supreme Court repeals or guts portions of the ACA.

The bulk of the package is slated to take effect after the Legislature adjourns for the year.

"Today, I am proud to sign bipartisan bills putting the cost-saving provisions of the ACA into Michigan state law and protect health care for millions of Michiganders," Whitmer said in a statement.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at [email protected] or 313-296-5743. Follow her on X, previously called Twitter, @clarajanehen.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Whitmer signs bills to codify Affordable Care Act into Michigan law