Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement today after the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act:
"Our highest court has weighed in, and its decision to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a victory for all Americans who have ever worried about being able to access or afford the care they need. Democrats are proud to have worked hard to pass this landmark legislation in 2010 and of our efforts to make sure it is implemented in a way that continues to yield new benefits for patients, employers, and care providers.
"The Affordable Care Act made it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate against patients on the basis of pre-existing conditions, which has already benefitted nearly 1,000 Marylanders. The law has benefitted 46,000 young adults in Maryland who have gained coverage on their parents' plans until age 26. The Medicare Part D "donut hole' is closing, saving Maryland residents over $53 million on their prescription drugs, and over 550,000 seniors on Medicare benefitted from free preventive services, like mammograms and colonoscopies last year alone. Maryland has received $5 million to fight unreasonable premium increases, and over 140,000 Marylanders with private insurance coverage will receive nearly $28 million in rebates from insurance companies this summer. Moreover, the Affordable Care Act provides deficit savings of more than $1 trillion over the next two decades.
"This decision ensures the Affordable Care Act will remain in place and that the time for litigation and partisan posturing on this issue ought to come to an end. We must now work together to implement the Affordable Care Act in order to make care affordable and accessible to Americans."