Andy Barr Repeatedly Voted To Repeal Health Coverage Protections For 1.8 Million Kentuckians With Preexisting Conditions
From a 2017 town hall in Lexington to the 2022 insulin vote.
By Barr Record editorial team · Published August 18, 2026 · Last reviewed August 18, 2026 · 5 min read
What to know
- Barr told a 2017 crowd that repealing the ACA was a promise he still needed to deliver.
- The Herald-Leader reported he voted multiple times to repeal the ACA and its preexisting-condition protections.
- In March 2022 he voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act.
In April 2017, hundreds of people packed a Lexington high school auditorium to question Barr about repealing the Affordable Care Act. The Associated Press reported that Barr told the crowd repeal was a promise not yet delivered: “We have not yet delivered on that promise. And my view is that we need to deliver. Now is the time.”
The Lexington Herald-Leader later reported that Barr voted with the Republican caucus multiple times to repeal the ACA and its protections for people with preexisting conditions, a group that includes an estimated 1.8 million Kentuckians.
In March 2022, Barr voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act. The bill text would have barred plans from imposing cost sharing above $35 for insulin for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The cap applied to insured patients, not to everyone.
Why this matters
An estimated 1.8 million Kentuckians have a preexisting condition, and insulin is a monthly bill families cannot skip.
The hits, with citations
Each line below is a single documented claim, followed by the quoted source language and the citation.
2017: Barr faced a packed town hall over his support for repealing the Affordable Care Act and said repeal was a promise still to be delivered.
“We haven't done that yet. We have not yet delivered on that promise. And my view is that we need to deliver. Now is the time.”
[Associated Press, April 24, 2017]
News reportVerifiedBarr voted repeatedly to repeal the Affordable Care Act and its protections for people with preexisting conditions.
“That group includes an estimated 1.8 million Kentuckians.”
[Lexington Herald-Leader, September 21, 2020]
News reportVerifiedMarch 2022: Barr voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would have capped insulin cost sharing at $35 per month for many insured patients.
[U.S. Congress, March 31, 2022]
Official recordVerified
Barr’s position and right of reply
Rep. Barr's office is invited to respond, including on any alternative healthcare measures he supported.
Responses are published in full on the corrections and responses page.
Sources
- News reportVerified
Amid Trump backlash, hundreds question Barr at Lexington town hall
“Barr said voters elected him and Trump because both promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which has led to an additional 400,000 people getting health insurance in Kentucky while also driving up the price of premiums. “We haven't done that yet. We have not yet delivered on that promise. And my view is that we need to deliver. Now is the time.””
- News reportVerified
Barr's votes on the Affordable Care Act and preexisting conditions
“Barr, first elected to Congress in 2012, voted with the Republican caucus multiple times to repeal the Affordable Care Act and its protections for people with preexisting conditions. That group includes an estimated 1.8 million Kentuckians.”
- Official recordVerified
H.R.6833 — Affordable Insulin Now Act
“For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2023 … [a plan] shall not … impose any cost-sharing in excess of the lesser of … $35.”