Congresswoman Matsui Celebrates Affordable Care Act Anniversary, Announces Local Benefits
Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) celebrated the second anniversary of the enactment of the Affordable Care Act and announced updated numbers on the local impact the law is having.
"Two years after the enactment of this historic legislation, we are witnessing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act in Americans' everyday lives," said Congresswoman Matsui. "From the senior who no longer has to choose between paying for groceries and paying for their prescription drugs, to the many young people who are beginning their working lives with the security of health insurance, to the parents who have the peace of mind that their children can no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, the health care law is making great strides in fixing our nation's broken health care system."
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 430 Sacramento small businesses have received tax credits to help pay for health coverage for their employees. $57.6 million in public health grants have been awarded to local community health centers, hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers to improve our community's health and create new jobs.
No longer are thousands of children in Sacramento denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions, and 7,400 young adults in Sacramento now have insurance as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act. 150,000 people in Sacramento have been protected from excessive rate increases because of the law, while 400,000 residents have been protected from their insurers dropping their coverage when they get sick.
Since 2010, 5,000 Sacramento seniors have received drug discounts worth $1.9 million, saving, on average, $390 each. And, 57,000 local seniors on Medicare have received preventative services, without co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles. The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that Medicare enrollees will save nearly $4200 each by 2021, and that people with high drug costs could save as much as $16,000 in that time.
Matsui added, "As the Affordable Care Act continues to be enacted, I am confident Sacramento will experience even greater benefits from the law."
Source