 From the Desk of
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
SCOTT RIGELL
2nd District
of Virginia
418 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
T: (202) 225-4215
F: (202) 225-4218
23386 Front Street
Accomac, VA 23301
T: (757) 789-5172
F: (757) 789-5175
4772 Euclid Road, Suite E
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
T: (757) 687-8290
F: (757) 687-8298
1100 Exploration Way, Suite 302 R
Hampton, VA 23666
T: (757) 687-8290
F: (757) 687-8298
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Rigell Supports Bill to Allow
More Americans to Keep
the Health Plans They Like
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Washington, D.C. – Consistent with his commitment to protect Americans and small businesses from the devastating, but not unexpected, impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-02) today voted for, and the House of Representatives passed, H.R. 3522, the Employee Health Care Protection Act. The legislation offers relief to individuals who face premium increases under the ACA, preserves health care plans for those enrolled in non-ACA compliant plans, and allows other small businesses and their employees to choose from non-ACA compliant plans offered in 2013.
“Employers are reeling with the costs and uncertainty presented by the ‘Un’ Affordable Care Act,” said Rigell. “This is hurting American families in my district and across the country. It’s unacceptable that business owners can’t expand operations, hire new employees, or retain current staff because of crippling premium increases as a result of the law. We need to promote economic policies that encourage job creators and the American worker to meet their full potential.”
Rigell noted that actuaries at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have estimated that approximately 65 percent of small businesses face a premium increase under the ACA. Furthermore, 25-30 million Americans are covered by group plans that are not grandfathered and are now subject to new requirements regarding benefits and premiums.
In 2010, the Administration estimated up to 80 percent of small-employer plans and up to 64 percent of large-employer plans would lose grandfathered status under the ACA.
H.R. 3522 extends health insurance coverage in the group marketplace and allows health insurance providers to continue to offer any group health care plan previously on the market in 2013 to be sold outside of the health insurance exchanges through December 31, 2018. These plans will be treated as grandfathered health plans to protect Americans and small business owners from skyrocketing premium increases.
Rigell continued: “The President made a promise to the American people that, ‘If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.’ The House acted today to ensure that promise was met.”
Since taking office in 2011, Rigell has been a vocal opponent of the health care law and has voted to repeal it, advocating instead for a more patient-focused solution that reins in medical costs, such as H.R. 2300, the Empowering Patients First Act.
Click here for more information about H.R. 3522, the Employee Health Care Protection Act.
Click here for more information about H.R. 2300, the Empowering Patients First Act.
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