Issue Position: Affordable Care Act

Issue Position

Reforming our health care system is a historic opportunity to make health care more affordable for millions of uninsured Americans. The Affordable Care Act will also bring the kind of change to the health care system that the American people have demanded for so long. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, one of the committees with primary jurisdiction over health issues, it was an honor to work with my colleagues to secure affordable health care for individuals, families and small businesses across our country and for my constituents. Nothing could be more important, which is why I now want to educate the people of the First Congressional District about the new law, help to implement it, and strengthen the hands of those who have worked for this historic reform.

The Affordable Care Act is about securing affordable, quality and accessible health care as a right, not a privilege, for every American; yet it is also about wellness and prevention, economic security and entrepreneurship, the well-being of working families and the strength of the middle class. In short, this historic law is about a healthier America.

We are now in the midst of changes that put health care in reach for all. Existing plans with larger employers are maintained and improved. Just as in the past, if you like your doctor, you can choose to stay with your doctor.

Good things have already happened and there is more to come: starting this fall, consumer-friendly marketplaces will enable families and individuals who are uninsured or buy their own coverage to buy quality, affordable coverage. The majority of uninsured Americans will have access to subsidies to make their insurance more affordable. All plans in the marketplaces will offer at least the minimum essential health benefits. The insurance industry will be more transparent than ever, with summaries of coverage and premiums available for every plan in the marketplace. There will be no annual limits on coverage for any patient and everyone will be guaranteed the availability of health insurance, regardless of medical history or pre-existing conditions.

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