WASHINGTON — Rumors that the Republican health care bill counts rape, domestic violence and ulcers as uninsurable pre-existing conditions are circulating among opponents of the bill. But these claims are overly simplistic.

The claims conflate what the bill says and its potential outcomes. While the bill could weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and result in much more expensive insurance, the effect ultimately rests on states and insurers. More important, the bill does not specify what a pre-existing condition is, nor does it allow insurers to deny coverage outright, although potentially they could set premiums beyond the reach of some sick consumers.

Here is an assessment.

Several liberal websites, like the Resistance Report, suggested that the bill allows insurers to discriminate against rape victims.

“Under Trumpcare plan, rape would be considered a pre-existing condition.”

THIS NEEDS CONTEXT. The bill does not define rape as a pre-existing condition, and neither did insurers before the Affordable Care Act. It is possible that sexual assault victims could see higher insurance costs, not because of assault itself but because of resulting trauma or sexually transmitted diseases.

Iterations of the claim began to circulate year ago during the debate over the Affordable Care Act. Internet searches on whether rape is a pre-existing condition started to spike again on Wednesday, the day before the House voted to repeal and replace the health care law.