Wilson Proudly Casts His Vote In Support Of Health Reform

Press Release

Tonight, U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson (OH-6) proudly cast his vote in favor of health care reform.

"Tonight marks the end of a very long journey," Wilson said. "I voted for the Senate version of health care reform and for the reconciliation changes because together the bills are fiscally conservative, pro-life, good for my district and good for our economy."

There are immediate benefits from this health insurance reform package. They include:

* Tax credits for small business owners who purchase health insurance
* Bans insurance companies from dropping your coverage when you get sick
* Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions
* No more lifetime limits or restrictive annual caps on benefits
* Free preventive care in all new private plans
* Young people will be able to stay on their parents' insurance policy until their 26th birthday
* Seniors with high prescription drug costs who find themselves in the prescription drug donut hole will receive $250 to help pay for prescriptions (and eventually the donut hole will be eliminated)
* A new independent appeals process for those who feel they have unfairly been denied an insurance claim

"My vote tonight was for the 40,000 uninsured residents of my district who will now be able to get coverage," Wilson said. "My vote tonight was for the 116,000 residents in my district who are on Medicare; they will benefit from a closed prescription drug donut hole. In addition, Medicare will now be solvent for an additional 9 years. My vote tonight was also for our economy. If we don't act, not only will millions more lose insurance, but health care spending will bankrupt this country. Health care spending -- projected to be nearly 18-percent of GDP this year -- will soon exceed 20-percent. Tonight we did the right thing."

More than 360 organizations, representing millions of Americans, backed health care reform. The list includes AARP, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Catholic Health Association, the Main Street Alliance (a small business group), and the American Nurses Association.

Source