Cohen Commemorates 6th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act by Highlighting its Many Benefits for Tennesseans

Statement

On the 6th anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law, Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today highlighted the many ways that the law is benefiting Tennesseans. The President's Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, ensures that no American can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, prevents insurers from charging more solely because someone is a woman, protects families from health-related bankruptcy, and provides access to free preventive care services for our seniors.

"Six years ago, I was proud to vote for the Affordable Care Act and continue to support the law today," said Congressman Cohen. "From giving uninsured citizens access to high-quality, affordable health coverage to making sure insurance companies can no longer discriminate against women or those with pre-existing conditions and from saving our seniors money on their prescriptions to extending family coverage to young adults, the Affordable Care Act is helping Memphians every day. I have now voted against 62 Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and I hope Republicans realize that their continued efforts to dismantle the law will only end up taking these benefits away and hurt hardworking Memphis families."

In Tennessee, some of the Affordable Care Act's benefits include:

· During the open enrollment period for 2016 coverage, 268,867 people in Tennessee selected a plan through the Marketplace, including approximately 129,056 new consumers and 75,283 young adults.

· The uninsured rate in Tennessee has fallen from 16.8 percent in 2013 to 13 percent in 2015

· 2,745,436 individuals, including 1,119,711 women, have gained coverage for at least one free preventive health care service such as a mammogram, birth control, or an immunization.

· 2,764,651 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cancer, or diabetes -- including up to 352,794 children -- will no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices because of their health status or history.

· 227,386 Marketplace enrollees in Tennessee who otherwise might not be able to afford it have benefitted from the ACA tax credit when signing up for health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. 77 percent of Marketplace consumers could have selected a plan for $100 per month or less after tax credits for 2016 coverage.

· Last year, 51,863 consumers in Tennessee received $3,251,939 in rebates under the ACA.

· 114,993 seniors and people with disabilities have saved on average $954 on prescription medications as the health care law closes Medicare's so-called "donut hole."

· Since 2009, Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown by 218,428 to 444,819 in Tennessee while premiums have dropped by 10 percent nationwide.

· Health centers have received $205,425,751 to provide primary care, establish new sites, and renovate existing centers to expand access to quality health care. As of September 30, 2015, Tennessee has approximately 169 health center sites, compared to 94 in 2008, which served about 369,235 individuals in 2014.

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