Healthcare PDF Print E-mail

From the day I first took office, I have sought major health insurance reform. It is long overdue. The cost of doing nothing is simply too high. For those of us fortunate to have coverage, our premiums continue to skyrocket. Everyone knows someone whose insurance company refused to pay for treatment their doctor ordered, or dropped their coverage altogether when they got sick and needed it most.

Since I took office, I have held more than 80 public events and meetings to get input from local families, businesses, and health care professionals. I’ve heard from a small business owner in Somers who says his business can’t keep up with health care premiums that rise upwards of 20% a year. I sat in the living room of a woman in Pine Island whose insurance company canceled her policy in the middle of radiation treatment for her breast cancer. I heard from senior citizens in Heritage Hills who can no longer afford their medications because they’ve exceeded their prescription drug benefits. I met a couple in Wappinger who lost their jobs – just as their son’s premiums were soaring because of a preexisting condition.

I have listened to you carefully. Based on your input, I pushed for improvements to the bills, many of which were included. I have read the bill, and based on my analysis I believe this is a bill that will improve the lives of my constituents. Here’s why:

This bill immediately protects people with preexisting conditions, and prevents insurance companies from dropping people when they get sick. Insurance companies can no longer impose annual and lifetime caps on benefits. Seniors will see the cost of prescription drugs go down, and everyone will receive free preventative care. Small businesses will get tax credits for covering workers. Young people can stay on their parents' coverage until they turn 26. And 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured will now have access to high quality, affordable health care.

This bill is fiscally responsible. It will cut the federal deficit by $138 billion in the first ten years, and by $1.2 trillion in the second decade. It keeps Medicare strong and healthy for years to come. According to state estimates, this bill will save New York more than $1 billion a year in Medicaid funding.

I think we all understand that insurance companies are not going to reform themselves. I think we all agree that every American should have access to the best health care in the world. Saying “No,” isn’t an answer to the problems our country faces. This bill demonstrates that we as a nation can say “Yes,” and come together to solve the big challenges we face.

That is why I proudly cast my vote for this bill.

 


 

Key Links:

Health Care Reform Bill Passed by the Senate and House
Reconciliation Bill as Passed by the House
Managers Amendment
Summary
Benefits for the 19th Congressional District
Timeline
Immediate Benefits
Organizations Supporting the Final Version of Health Insurance Reform
Myths Versus Facts
Questions about Small Business Health Care Tax Credits

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