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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2013
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370
Oakland, Calif. – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee announced that a new analysis shows that hundreds of thousands of people in California's 13th district are already benefiting from the Affordable Care Act. This analysis is being released as House Republicans are preparing to take their 38th vote to undermine, repeal, and gut the protections and reforms of the health care law.
“Over the last three years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, millions of Americans have already begun to lower costs and better coverage,” Congresswoman Lee said. “Communities of color, who are disproportionately affected by health disparities and lack of health insurance, need this law more than ever. We must continue to provide high quality, affordable health care for all Americans. I am so pleased to see that right here in the 13th Congressional District of California our health care law is working and helping our most vulnerable among us.”
A new analysis prepared by the Democratic staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee provides estimates by congressional district of the number of people benefiting from health care law. You can find details of the report here.
“Residents of my district – ranging from young adults to seniors to children with pre-existing conditions and those who cannot afford health insurance – have been receiving critical protections and savings because of the Affordable Care Act," Congresswoman Lee added.
The new analysis shows that the health care law has already provided in California’s 13th district:
- Coverage for 9,100 additional young adults: The health care law requires health insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until their 26th birthday. Because of this provision, 9,100 young adults in my congressional district have already gained health care coverage.
- Lower drug costs for 4,400 seniors: The health care law is providing major savings in drug costs for seniors in the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole.’ Because of this provision, 4,400 seniors in my congressional district have received prescription drug discounts worth $5.6 million, an average discount of $500 per person in 2011, $650 in 2012, and $600 thus far in 2013.
- Free preventive services for 90,000 seniors: Since 2011, the health care law provides free Medicare coverage of preventive services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. Because of this provision, 90,000 seniors in my congressional district are now eligible for Medicare preventive services without any co-pays, coinsurance or deductible.
- Free preventive services for 187,000 individuals in private plans: Since September 2010, the health care law also provides, for those enrolled in most private plans, free coverage of preventive services. As a result, 187,000 individuals in private plans – including 32,000 children and 80,000 women – now have health insurance that covers preventive services without any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible.
- Savings in premiums for 235,000 individuals: 235,000 individuals in the district have saved on their premiums due to ACA provisions that prevent insurers from spending more than 20% of their premiums on profits and administrative overhead. Because of these protections, over 38, 300 consumers in the district received approximately $2.8 million in insurance company rebates in 2011 and 2012 – an average rebate of $71 per family in 2012 and $65 per family in 2011.
- Protection for up to 34,000 children with pre-existing conditions: Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from denying coverage to children for having a pre-existing health condition. Because of this provision, up to 34,000 children with pre-existing conditions in my congressional district are being protected from denial of coverage.
- Elimination of lifetime limits on coverage for 246,000 individuals: Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from placing a lifetime limit on coverage. As a result, in my congressional district, 246,000 individuals no longer have a lifetime limit imposed on their coverage, and beginning in 2014, will not face an annual limit on coverage.
- Access to quality, affordable coverage for 100,000 uninsured individuals: In 2014, millions of uninsured Americans will gain access to quality, affordable health coverage, through the new Marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid, under the health care law. In my district, 100,000 individuals who lack health insurance will have access to quality, affordable coverage without fear of discrimination or higher rates because of a preexisting health condition.
"At a time when we should all be working together to successfully implement the health care law, this week, the GOP is continuing their three-year-long effort to repeal, obstruct, and undermine the Affordable Care Act,” Congresswoman Lee concluded. “It is clear that millions of Americans have already received critical protections and savings due to the law, and beginning in January, millions more will gain new access to quality, affordable health care coverage. I will keep fighting until all my constituents, especially the most vulnerable, have the health security and economic security they deserve.”
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