After Push By Reps. Doggett And Slaughter, Treasury And IRS Release Guidance Allowing Domestic Violence Survivors To Access ACA Benefits

Statement

"Domestic abuse victims finally have some assurance that they can access tax credits to make health insurance affordable without relying upon those who abused them. Today's dual Administration announcement means that they have two additional months to use this information in choosing the best insurance policy," Rep. Doggett said. "I appreciate the prompt response to our congressional request, but Treasury now needs to move forward more expeditiously to get final regulations adopted this year."

"Survivors of domestic violence should not have to depend on their abuser to gain access to affordable health care, and I'm glad the Treasury Department will ensure that no longer happens," Rep. Slaughter said. "Before the ACA, eight states and the District of Columbia allowed insurance companies to label domestic violence as a pre-existing condition and subsequently denied coverage to battered spouses -- the insurance companies figured if someone had been beaten up once, they would be beaten up again and would be too expensive to insure. Now that the ACA ended that insidious practice, Treasury must quickly implement this rule so these survivors are able to access the health care they need and end the cycle of abuse without these unnecessary barriers."

Source