Van Hollen Statement On Health Insurance Reform Bill Signing

Statement

Van Hollen Statement On Health Insurance Reform Bill Signing

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, issued the following statement on the President signing health insurance reform legislation into law:

"Today, President Obama signed into law a health reform bill that brings down health care costs for American families and small businesses, expands coverage to millions of Americans, and ends the worst practices of insurance companies. It is an historic moment in America's journey to become a more just and prosperous nation, and the Senate will soon vote on the House's changes to strengthen the bill. Americans will begin to see significant benefits take effect this year, with other important reforms phased in over time.

"In the next six months, children with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied coverage, health plans will be banned from placing lifetime caps on coverage, young people will be able to remain on their parents' insurance up to their 26th birthday, we will provide small businesses tax credits so they can provide affordable health coverage, and we will begin to help seniors pay for their high prescription costs.

"Over time, we will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, create health insurance exchanges so that Americans have the same choices as Members of Congress, extend health care coverage to an additional 32 million Americans, ensure middle class families can afford insurance by providing the biggest tax cut for health care in U.S. history, and reduce the deficit by over a trillion dollars in the next two decades.

"The people we have been fighting for all year will finally see relief from a broken health insurance system. It marks the end of a century-long debate, the end of inaction and indecision -- and the beginning of the end of a system that puts insurance company profits ahead of the health care interests of hard working American families."

Source