Van Hollen Marks the Two-Year Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law:

"Two years ago today, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act and changed the course of health care in our nation. This historic reform legislation has already begun to change families' lives for the better. Small businesses are receiving tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees, with over 600 in Maryland's Eighth Congressional District alone already receiving this assistance. Children with pre-existing conditions are no longer denied coverage and young people are now able to remain on their parents' insurance up to their 26th birthday -- which has so far helped 2.5 million people nationwide and over 51,868 young adults in our State. And insurers are banned from dropping women when they get sick or become pregnant.

"Seniors have also started to see important benefits from our Medicare reforms. Beneficiaries can now receive free preventive services, and last year over half a million people with Medicare in Maryland took advantage of this new benefit. Also, 52,243 Marylanders on Medicare received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole last year.

"That's only the beginning. Over time, the Affordable Care Act will bring down health care costs for families and small businesses and expand coverage to millions of Americans. It will end the worst practices of the insurance industry, and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to anyone with a pre-existing condition. It will also help put our nation on more sound fiscal footing, reducing the deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next 20 years.

"Ensuring that kids with cancer can't be denied care, refusing to force seniors to choose between lifesaving medicine or heating for their homes, lowering costs, expanding access, and putting Americans in charge of their health care choices -- that is what the Affordable Care Act means for our nation."

Source