Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law to give Americans more security by holding insurance companies accountable, bringing down costs across the health care system, and provide families access to quality, affordable health insurance.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Health Subcommittee, and as a member helped craft the Affordable Care Act to ensure it works for Florida families.

The first enrollment in the Health Care Marketplace opened Oct. 1, 2013 and ended March 31, 2014. Florida families and individuals have benefited from a broad range of new health insurance options and lower-than-expected rates. This year's enrollment runs Nov. 15, 2014 - Feb. 15, 2015.

Prior to individual enrollment in the marketplace, many neighbors had already benefited from the Affordable Care Act -- young adults have health insurance because they have been able to remain on their parent's policies until age 26, small businesses offering health insurance to their employees are eligible for tax credits, seniors are paying less for prescription drugs as the "donut hole" closes, children no longer face discrimination due to pre-existing conditions and residents have received millions of dollars in rebates from insurance companies because of important consumer protection provisions in the law that require a larger portion of premiums go towards health care costs.

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