KANSAS CITY, Mo. Two doctors are competing for a Kansas U.S. Senate seat and health care is emerging as a topic the candidates are both hitting hard.

Truth Be Told took a closer look at a television ad by the Barbara Bollier for Kansas campaign that claims U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall voted against protections for people with pre-existing conditions.

The campaign ad references a bill called the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act." The legislation, sponsored by a Minnesota Democrat, said it would lower drug prices, encourage Medicaid expansion and protect people with pre-existing conditions.

According to voting records, the bill passed in the House of Representatives on a party-line vote 234-179. Rep. Marshall was one of the 179 lawmakers to vote no.

Congressman Marshall released a statement after the vote and said his action was a vote against "Medicare for all." The Republican lawmaker argued quality and innovation would be compromised. Instead, Marshall said he's part of a Republican solution that "solves the pre-existing conditions issue, increases patient choices and decreases costs."

On Bollier's campaign website, the Democrat said Marshall's plan would result in underfunded high-risk pools, elimination of essential health benefits, introduction of short-term health plans and cuts to Medicaid.

The topic of pre-existing conditions and health care is personal for many voters, including Percy Monroy, who has diabetes.

Monroy is from Guatemala and has lived in the United States for 20 years. He explained his quality of life is better dealing with the disease in the U.S.

I would say that in another country your life span is way shorter and especially with all the complications that diabetes has and the damages that happens in the body," Monroy explained.

Yvonne Ornelas-Rios is a nurse practitioner with Vibrant Health and said diabetes is just one of many common health issues patients come in with.

"The diabetes, the hypertension and the high cholesterol or dyslipidemia they come in threes," she said.

While Bollier and Marshall work to convince voters they're the best choice for the Senate, Monroy said he's able to enjoy his life thanks to the care he's receiving.

With all that support, my life has been almost relatively normal," Monroy said.

41 Action News is committed to providing comprehensive information on the 2020 primary and general elections with an emphasis on several key issues the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and race relations. Count on us to provide news and information to help you make an informed choice at the polls.

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Fact check: Bollier claims Marshall voted against health care protections - KSHB