Issue Position: Health Care
Issue Position
You may visit www.coveredca.com or call (800) 300-1506 to enroll and learn about benefits under the Affordable Care Act. If you have any problems or questions, you may also call my district office at (619) 280-5353.
Susan on the Issues
Susan believes that all Americans deserve affordable, quality health care.
With 50 million Americans without health insurance and millions more at risk of losing their insurance, Susan proudly supported the health care reform law. See Susan's Statement on Passing Health Care Reform
While the law will be fully implemented in 2014, here are some provisions that are already helping San Diego families:
No denying children coverage based on a pre-existing condition
Insurance companies can't cancel policies when a patient gets sick
No lifetime limits on benefits
Small businesses receive tax credits for covering their workers
Young adults can stay on their parents' coverage until age 26
Insurers have to provide free preventative care on new plans
Closing the prescription drug gap called the "donut hole"
No copayments for seniors for preventative care
New drug discounts for seniors
Insurance companies have to dedicate 85% of your premiums to your health care
For more information on the health care reform law, visit http://www.healthcare.gov/.
Susan's Contribution to Healthcare Reform
The health care reform law put in place important consumer protections that were long overdue for patients across our country. Legislation that Susan authored was included in the final healthcare reform law:
Getting women direct access to their OB/GYN
(H.R. 2940, Women's Obstetrician and Gynecologist Medical Access Now Act)
Provides women direct access to an OB/GYN. Prohibits plans or issuers from requiring a referral or prior approval.
Helping to Prevent Diabetes
(H.R. 4124, Diabetes Prevention Act)
Provides grants for a community-based approach to preventing new cases of type 2 Diabetes. New cases of diabetes are growing at an alarming rate -- even beginning to appear in children -- and Susan wants to help reverse this trend.
Maintaining Viability of Birth Centers
(H.R. 2358, Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act)
Preserves crucial maternal healthcare by ensuring Medicaid birth center facility fee payments are made to states. Susan became concerned that the federal government was disallowing federal matching funds for state Medicaid payments for birth center facility fees. Birth centers are part of an essential safety net for Medicaid mothers across the country.
Susan believes that Congress should be working together to improve the healthcare reform law. The time to debate healthcare reform has passed. Susan successfully worked with colleagues in both parties to repeal the law's burdensome 1099 IRS Tax Form requirements. See Susan' Statement on Vote Against Repealing the Health Care Law
Fighting For Medical Research Funding
Every day, dedicated professionals at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) conduct critical research that improves our citizens' health and sustains our global scientific and economic leadership. In San Diego, we are privileged to have several eminent institutions doing this work, and Susan understands the significance of continuing to support them so their developments can keep Americans healthier.
That's why she has consistently fought for NIH funding. In the 111th Congress, she worked to bring close to $500 million in NIH funding to the 53rd District in the Recovery Act, which was more than any other district received in the nation. As NIH funding has come under attack in the 112th Congress, Susan has actively worked to protect it. In 2012, she co-led a letter in the House signed by 151 of her colleagues requesting full funding for medical research to fight diseases and improve health.
Protecting Seniors' Healthcare
Our nation's seniors have worked hard their whole lives. Susan believes that seniors deserve to retire in dignity and receive the healthcare coverage promised to them through Medicare.
Making Long-term Care Affordable
America has a long-term care crisis and it's only getting worse. Currently, there are over 10 million Americans who need long-term care, and this number is expected to grow rapidly. Susan is working with her colleagues to ensure that seniors will have the long-term care they may need when they retire.
Susan voted against a bill (HR 1173) that would repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) law. Under the CLASS Act, healthy workers can buy affordable insurance over their careers to finance the high cost of long-term care when they become aged and possibly disabled -- allowing seniors to remain self-sufficient and in their own homes as long as possible.
The American people want Congress to work together -- on a bipartisan basis -- to solve the nation's problems. Instead of bringing up this repeal bill, Congress should be working together to fix the CLASS Act. While HR 1173 passed the House, it fortunately was not considered in the Senate.
Preserving Medicare
Susan also voted against the Ryan Budget (H.Con.Res 112) that would end the guarantee of Medicare for seniors. Susan opposes changing Medicare into a voucher program that would leave our seniors at the mercy of private insurance companies. The Ryan Budget passed the House, but was not considered in the Senate.
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