Washington, DC- (Friday, March 23, 2012) –  Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement on the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which is observed today:

“In the two short years since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, there have been historic advancements in our Nation’s health care system. With this legislation, young adults have access to their parents’ health care coverage, seniors have access to free annual wellness visits, small business employers can receive tax benefits to provide health insurance for their employees, and patients with pre-existing conditions will be covered in 2014. Insurance companies will no longer be able to terminate women’s coverage when they get sick or pregnant, and seniors have more options to receive care.

Under the Affordable Care Act, 86 million Americans are receiving free preventive services, such as check-ups and cancer screenings. Seniors in the “donut hole” have saved $2.1 billion on prescription drugs, an average of $604 per senior.  Texans are saving more than $1.3 million in health care costs (an average of $639.36 per beneficiary), and 210,700 Texans are directly saving on their Medicare prescriptions.  As a registered nurse, I understand how critical these benefits are.  Patients now have more freedom and control over their health care choices than ever before.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act this week, we should reflect on  the progress made in this country and acknowledge how this legislation has been able to provide health care to millions of Americans.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek,Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.