Lone GOP outside group offers cover for GOP healthcare vote

A GOP outside group allied with Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is investing further in its effort to provide cover for House Republicans supporting the legislation to reform ObamaCare.

American Action Network is to date the only major outside group defending the GOP’s healthcare plan on the airwaves. 

The advocacy nonprofit has spent more than $3.1 million on ads following the bill’s narrow passage in the House earlier this month, including a new $400,000 wave unveiled Tuesday of radio ads.

{mosads}Multiple groups like the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Save My Care, meanwhile, have been airing ads blasting GOP lawmakers for their votes in favor of the bill.

The latest ads will run in 10 districts mostly represented by Republicans expected to face tough races for reelection next year.

Reps. Martha McSally (Ariz.), Jeff Denham (Calif.), David Valadao (Calif.), Steve Knight (Calif.), Rod Blum (Iowa), Kevin Yoder (Kan.), Bruce Poliquin (Maine), Don Bacon (Neb.), Pat Tiberi (Ohio) and Ryan will be the beneficiaries of the ads.

“Americans should know that their member of Congress kept their promise to fight for patient-centered health care. AAN will continue to be aggressive in our effort to share that better care is on the way,” AAN Executive Director Corry Bliss said in a statement.

Overall, AAN has spent more than $13.1 million pushing for the House GOP’s effort to repeal and replace the healthcare law.

“Our health care system is broken,” a narrator says in a sample ad. “Fortunately, [member of Congress] is fighting to give families hope.”

Republicans have been struggling the most with convincing the public whether their bill adequately covers people with preexisting conditions, which was one of the most popular features of ObamaCare.

The legislation allows states to apply for waivers from ObamaCare provisions that prevent insurers from charging sick people higher premiums and mandate minimum services insurance plans must cover.

AAN’s ad notes that the legislation “protects people with pre-existing conditions by stopping insurance companies from raising their premiums if they maintain continuous coverage.”

Premiums for consumers with preexisting conditions would not be affected if they don’t have a gap in coverage.

But if people buying health insurance on the individual market had a lapse in coverage for more than roughly two months, their new insurance rates could be priced off any preexisting conditions for one year. Individuals would only be affected if they lived in a state that had obtained a waiver from the law.