Affordable Care Act Cancellations

Floor Speech

Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act is working for many of my constituents on the central coast of California, like Danna in San Luis Obispo County, who tells me she will be saving 40 percent on her family's premiums. It is working for the Pacelas in Solvang, who tell me they now have better coverage while saving $8,000 a year on their premiums. It is working for the thousands of families whose young adult children can continue on their parents' plans, and for everyone who has a preexisting condition who now cannot be turned down for coverage.

I know that this is not the case for all central coast residents, especially those who may have received cancelation notices this year, either because their insurer is only selling in the exchanges, or because the insurance companies have stopped offering plans in our area all together. Cancelation of these plans has caused real pain and confusion for our constituents in California who are faced with Covered California marketplace options that have different provider networks or different premium costs.

After hearing numerous stories from the families I represent, it is clear we must address this problem with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act so we can protect all California families and businesses. The President has offered an administrative fix to this issue to allow insurance companies to offer plans to those already enrolled for the next year, but States will be the final decisionmakers.

That is why I led a letter, with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and 22 of our California colleagues, to Covered California's leadership asking them to implement this administrative fix without delay.

Covered California has led the way in bringing new, quality health care opportunities to millions of Californians. The Web site is working, and enrollment is steadily increasing. But with over 1 million Californians receiving cancelation notices of their current plans, we must and we will do more to ensure that no one is left without the opportunity for affordable coverage. These families were told that if they liked their plan they can keep it, and that is a promise we must keep for them.

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