Rep. Roybal-Allard Hails Two Year Anniversary of Healthcare Law, Benefits Already Felt in 34th District

Press Release

Today, Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard released the following statement praising the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:

"It has only been two years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, but millions of Americans are already seeing lower costs and better coverage," Rep. Roybal-Allard stated. "This includes hundreds of thousands of people right here in the 34th Congressional District of California, ranging from young adults, to seniors, to children with pre-existing conditions."

A new analysis prepared by the Minority staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee provides estimates by congressional district of the number of people who have already benefited from the new law. The new analysis shows that in our congressional district alone the new health care law has already provided:

· Protection for 230,000 individuals from arbitrarily being dropped from coverage if they get sick. The new health care law prohibits insurers from arbitrarily rescinding an individual's coverage because they become ill.

· Elimination of the lifetime limits on their health care coverage for 120,000 individuals. The new health care law prohibits insurers from placing a lifetime limit on coverage. In the past, in some cases, lifetime limits on coverage have forced some families to declare personal bankruptcy.

· Coverage for 7,100 additional young adults. The new health care law requires health insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until their 26th birthday.

· Lower drug costs for 2,200 seniors. The new health care law provides a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs for seniors in the Medicare Part D "donut hole' coverage gap. Because of this provision these 2,200 seniors have already received prescription drug discounts worth $900,000, an average discount of $420 per senior.

· Free key preventive services for 37,000 seniors. The new health care law provides free Medicare coverage of key preventive services, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and annual wellness visits.

· Free key preventive services for 78,000 individuals under age 65. The new health care law also provides, for those enrolled in new private plans, free coverage of key preventive services.

· Protection for up to 45,000 children with pre-existing conditions. The new health care law prohibits insurers from denying coverage to children for having a "pre-existing" condition.

"As the new benefits of the health care law continue to be implemented and to benefit more of our neighbors, I will continue to fight GOP efforts to repeal this critical law," Rep. Roybal-Allard added. "Republican efforts to repeal reform will put the insurance companies back in charge and will lead to higher costs and a loss of benefits for millions of Americans across the country."

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