Second Anniversary of the Historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act |
Friday, 23 March 2012 09:01 |
Today marks the second anniversary of the historic Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act being signed into law by the President. This is an extraordinary achievement for our country and I’m very proud to have been part of the effort. When I cast my vote, I thought about the millions of hard-working Americans who struggle to pay for rising premiums; of the young people who have an increasingly tough time finding a job that offers health insurance; of those who were dropped by insurers because they became ill; and about my constituents who asked me if the Medicare program they paid into would still be around when they need it. Our economy could not sustain the rising costs of healthcare, or the tens of millions of Americans who had fallen through the cracks and left without any insurance whatsoever. The law created a “three-legged stool” approach. Insurers are required to cover everyone. In return, everyone is required to buy insurance, creating a pool of healthy and sick people. Subsidies will be provided to lower-income families to help them purchase coverage. We will no longer have a system where the costs of the uninsured are shifted to those who pay for coverage, causing their premiums to rise at unsustainable rates. Some elements of the Affordable Care Act are currently in place, and others will be implemented by 2014. Here are some important benefits in place today in our Congressional District:
The most significant impacts of health reform will be experienced in 2014, when all Americans will be required to have health insurance. For most, nothing will change at all. If you have good health benefits from your employer, you keep them. If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll have a choice of quality, affordable coverage through the new competitive insurance marketplace known as the “Exchange.” Exchanges in every state will offer a range of plans at different price points, including access to the same plans that Members of Congress have. Health reform expands coverage, increases services covered by insurance, and reigns in skyrocketing healthcare costs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget projects the law will save $210 billion over the next ten years, and more than $1 trillion over twenty years. Under the Affordable Care Act:
My constituents and every American deserve a first-rate healthcare system that’s available to everyone. I’m proud of the significant progress we’re making, and despite the demonization and inaccurate information which have accompanied the effort, I can’t help but think that the state of our union will be healthier and our economy stronger. As always, should you have any comments or questions, let me hear from you. All my best, Anna G. Eshoo
I’ve included more information on how the Affordable Care Act affects my constituents: How Health Reform Benefits Seniors How Health Reform Benefits Women How Health Reform Benefits Young Adults and Children How Health Reform benefits Small Businesses |
Thomas Bill Search |