Austin Price
CALPIRG
Stories from Californians Benefiting from Health Care Reform
Sacramento, CA – Today marks the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and although many of the most profound changes start in 2014, hundreds of thousands of Californians are already benefiting:
“My daughter, now 19 years old, is benefiting from health care
reform. Diagnosed with a heart murmur, even though benign, she would
not have been able to get health care on her own; she works in an
industry that does not offer health care benefits to their employees.
With health care reform, I am able to keep her insured on my health
care plan offered by my employer.”
Lisa Moats, Santa Cruz, CA
“I like that many common sense things are free of charge. These things
are generally preventative health care like childhood vaccinations, flu
shots and birth control/family planning items. These upfront costs to
the insurance companies will greatly reduce healthcare costs to them
(and the country and society) in the long run.”
Laurie Winslow, Palo Alto, CA
Our employees are paid living wages or better, including health benefits.
Reform provided us with a $6,500 rebate on our 2010 health insurance
costs. This is of enormous benefit to us. We look forward to the rebate
for 2011 and will use it wisely to support our employees and provide
service to our community.”
Nancy Macy, Boulder Creek, CA
“I have a pre-existing condition, that under former health care regs,
could easily have prevented me from being re-insured by my latest job.
I have cancer, and even though I am now beyond the necessity of expensive treatment, I could never have afforded the follow up medications I have
been prescribed.
Without insurance that does not discriminate against pre-existing
conditions, I could never get the medications I need at a price I could
afford. It would have come down to not getting them at all.”
Kathleen O’Connell, Berkeley, CA
In addition to these benefits, health reform is also helping reduce costs. Rate review saved California consumers $127 million in 2011 and new exchanges will give individuals and small businesses more bargaining power.
“Debate over the ACA continues in the presidential primary contest and will be amplified as the United States Supreme Court prepares to hear challenges to the law starting Monday.
But despite all the bickering in Washington, for real people these changes mean real relief. And anyone who is serious about the long-term fiscal health of our country, has got to be serious about health care reform. The ACA is a big step in the right direction,” said Austin Price, Health Care Associate for CALPIRG.
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CALPIRG is a non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organization. For more information, visit http://calpirg.org .