The state House lawmakers unanimously voted to extend coverage of pre-existing conditions to all health plans, including short-term ones.

Right now, those short-term plans would be exempt if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. Lawmakers say that's a dangerous loophole for thousands of patients.

The vote was 146-0. Three lawmakers did not participate.

Rep. Sean Scanlon (D-Guilford) says the vote was a “very clear signal” to the people of Connecticut.

“We will protect our constituents regardless of what happens in Washington with health care," he says.

Without the bill, patients with short-term policies, those that only run a few months, could be cut off.

Insurers would also be banned from dropping you if a doctor hasn't specifically diagnosed your condition.

"If the ACA is repealed, there would be no cost increase to the insurers because they've already been doing that," says Scanlon.

The measure now heads to the state Senate, where it's expected to easily pass.

However, the law wouldn’t apply to about half the workers in the state who work for companies that provide their own insurance.