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As many as 129 million Americans under 65 have a pre-existing medical condition — some 2.5 million in Maryland — that could cost them their health insurance if the health reform law is repealed, the Obama administration warned in a report today.

Having a medical problems like heart disease, high blood pressure and asthma could drive up the cost of purchasing care, or cause people to be be rejected by insurers all together, according to the study by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The administration released the analysis, a first attempt to qualify the number of Americans with pre-existing conditions, to coincide with Republican efforts today to debate repeal the sweeping health care overhaul passed last year.

The report also includes detailed estimates at the cost of repeal in each state.

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Advocacy group Maryland Health Care For All! Coalition released a book today chronicling the stories of 40 people or families who have benefited from changes in the states healthcare policies in the last several years.

The book, “Faces of Maryland’s Newly Insured,” looks at people who have gotten access to insurance through reform made in the state’s healthcare system since 2007.

Some of the changes include legislation that expanded coverage to low-income adults and grants to small businesses to offer coverage to their employees. A cigarette tax funded many of the changes.

The stories include that of Linda of Central Maryland who was able to get insurance for her whole family under the Medical Assistance for Families program and the Maryland Children’s Health Program after her husband lost his job.

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