Rep. Swalwell: Analysis Shows Millions of People in the Bay Area Already Benefiting from Affordable Care Act

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) announced that a new analysis shows that millions of people in the Bay Area are already benefiting from the Affordable Care Act. This analysis is being released just as House Republicans take their 38th vote to undermine or repeal the protections and benefits of the health care law.

"Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law three years ago, millions of Bay Area residents and Americans across the country have already been seeing lower costs and better coverage," Rep. Swalwell stated. "This includes the 75,200 young adults in the Bay Area who now have health insurance through their parents' plan and the more than one million Bay Area seniors who are eligible for preventive services like mammograms with no additional cost. Rather than repealing the law, House Republicans should be working with Democrats to implement and improve it. "

A new analysis prepared by the Minority staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee provides estimates of the number of people benefiting from health care law.

The new analysis shows that the health care law has already provided:

- Coverage for 75,200 additional young adults in the Bay Area. The health care law requires health insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until their 26th birthday. Because of this provision, 75,200 young adults in the Bay Area have already gained health care coverage.
- Lower drug costs for 63,100 Bay Area seniors. The health care law is providing major savings in drug costs for seniors in the Medicare Part D "donut hole.' Because of this provision, 63,100 seniors in the Bay Area have received prescription drug discounts worth $80.6 million.
- Free preventive services for 1.028 million Bay Area seniors. Since 2011, the health care law provides free Medicare coverage of preventive services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, without any co-pays, coinsurance or deductible.
- Free preventive services for 2.047 million individuals in private plans in the Bay Area. Since September 2010, the health care law also provides, for those enrolled in most private plans, free coverage of preventive services. -As a result, 2,047,000 individuals in private plans -- including 433,000 children and 827,000 women -- now have health insurance that covers preventive services without any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible.
-Savings in premiums for nearly 2.5 million individuals in the Bay Area. 2,498,000 million individuals in the Bay Area have saved on their premiums due to ACA provisions that prevent insurers from spending more than 20% of their premiums on profits and administrative overhead. Because of these protections, over 419,700 Bay Area consumers received approximately $31.2 million in insurance company rebates in 2011 and 2012.
- Protection for up to 369,000 children with pre-existing conditions in the Bay Area. Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from denying coverage to children for having a pre-existing health condition. Because of this provision, up to 369,000 children with pre-existing conditions in the Bay Area are being protected from denial of coverage.
- Elimination of lifetime limits on coverage for over 2.6 million individuals in the Bay Area. Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from placing a lifetime limit on coverage. As a result, 2,634,000 Bay Area individuals no longer have a lifetime limit imposed on their coverage, and beginning in 2014, will not face an annual limit on coverage.
- Access to quality, affordable coverage for 880,000 uninsured individuals in the Bay Area. Beginning in 2014, millions of uninsured Americans will gain access to quality, affordable health coverage without fear of discrimination or higher rates because of a preexisting health condition, through the new Marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid, under the health care law.

"Millions of Bay Area residents have already received critical protections and savings due to the law, including hundreds of thousands in my district in the East Bay. Beginning in January 2014, many more will gain new access to quality health care coverage as a result of new protections and "Covered California," a marketplace where individuals can shop and sign-up for affordable coverage," added Rep. Swalwell.

Source