Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) and Central Coast health care leaders mark the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and recognized the benefits the law has already delivered to thousands on the Central Coast. On March 23, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law historic health care reform legislation: the Affordable Care Act.
At the two-year anniversary of this landmark law, new data demonstrates the benefits that the law has already provided to seniors, young adults, small businesses, and many others on the Central Coast. As a result of the law (data provided by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce):
• 7,400 young adults in the district now have health insurance.
• 4,900 seniors in the district received prescription drug discounts worth $3.2 million, an average discount of $650 per senior.
• 53,000 seniors in the district received Medicare preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles.
• 27,000 children and 110,000 adults now have health insurance that covers preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles.
• 460 small businesses in the district received tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees.
• 9,000 to 40,000 children with preexisting health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by health insurers.
“After only two years since its passage the Affordable Care Act has already extended quality health care to thousands of families, seniors and young adults on the Central Coast,” Farr said. “Preexisting conditions are no longer an excuse to be denied coverage and life saving preventive care is now offered at no cost. These are some of the impacts of health care reform that are fundamentally changing our health care system by increasing access to care while reducing costs.”
“It is unbelievable that we are celebrating the second year anniversary of the passing of the Affordable Care Act – a dream come true which only true visionaries would hope for,” said Rosa Vivian Fernandez, President CEO of the San Benito Health Foundation. “Much like the passing of Medicare we still need to adjust to our new environment and while not perfect or fully implemented it has certainly had a positive impact. Patience, Innovation and entrepreneurial efforts will make our efforts truly effective and lasting.”
