Issue Position: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Issue Position

Q: The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has begun to take effect--providing insurance access to people with pre-existing health conditions, allowing young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until the age of 26, and allowing states to cover more people on Medicaid. By 2014, most citizens who do not have health insurance will be required to do so (with tax credits available to those who need help), but this concept has bothered some Missouri voters, who passed "Proposition C" in August. Do you think the federal health care act will help the nation's health care crisis? If so, how? And if not, what do you think needs to be done in Washington to help the problem?

A: I believe health care is a basic human right. Americans should not live or die because of their ability to pay for care.

The reality is our previous health care system was unsustainable. Just like families in the Fifth District, our government, as the largest provider of care in the nation, could not afford rate increases of 12-15 percent each year.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will save billions over the next 20 years. It will extend the life of Medicare and Medicaid, and expand insurance coverage to over 40 million more Americans. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will save lives and money. That is progress that would make Harry Truman proud.

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