"Look, nobody wants folks who have a pre-existing illness or injury not to be covered," Price said. | AP Photo Price defends pre-existing conditions coverage in GOP bill

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price on Sunday defended the health care legislation just approved by the House against charges that many people with pre-existing conditions could have trouble getting insurance or see their premiums rise.

Asked about the staunch opposition to the bill, particularly its provisions dealing with pre-existing conditions, Price said on NBC's "Meet the Press": “What I believe they are not recognizing is this is a different and, we believe, better way” to cover those individuals.


"I think it’s absolutely true that the president is fulfilling his promise to the American people," Price said, "and that is to make certain that every single American has access to the kind of coverage that they want for themselves and for their family, not that their government forces them to buy, and make certain that we ensure that individuals with pre-existing illnesses and injuries and conditions are covered, but covered in a way that they want. Again, not that Washington forces them."

"Look, nobody wants folks who have a pre-existing illness or injury not to be covered," Price went on. "We want to make certain that we can do it at a lower price and broader choices for patients. So, that again, they’re able to see the doctor that they want to see. They’re able to go to the hospital that they want to go to and to the clinic that they want to go to, not that Washington forces them to participate in."

The goal, Price said, "is make certain that every single person has health coverage."

"Our desire is to make certain that we have a system that works for patients," he said, "not for government, not for insurance companies, but for patients. That's the goal."

