Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2014
Floor Speech
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Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3522 marks the 53rd vote to repeal or undermine ObamaCare. But worse, it means taking away guaranteed benefits for the consumers that you seem to be so concerned about.
Does anyone really believe that Americans want insurance companies to be able to deny them coverage or charge them more due to a preexisting condition? Do they want insurance companies to be able to refuse to pay for their lifesaving treatments because they have hit an annual limit? Do they want insurance companies to be able to not cover maternity services for pregnant women, as so many plans did?
I believe we can all agree the answer is ``no.'' That is why we have to reject H.R. 3522 and all other efforts to repeal or undermine the consumer protections of ObamaCare. Americans simply can't afford it. They can't afford to have insurance companies back in charge of their health care.
This isn't about consumer choice. This is about turning over decisions to insurance companies that want to cut the benefits.
I want to end my remarks by just mentioning one story of why the Affordable Care Act is so important to constituents. This is from John. He says:
I wanted to share with you the good news that by accessing health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, my little business, a law firm, was able to avoid a substantial premium increase and, in fact, obtain the same full coverage at reduced deductibles and copayments and add dental care for thousands a month less than our old premiums costs, which we had just been advised was to be raised approximately 14 percent. I have been practicing law for over 37 years and have always felt a responsibility to provide full health care benefits for all my employees, including clerks and staff, paying the total premium for all participants. My firm expanded at one point to include my then-partner, seven associate lawyers, and multiple staff, though we are now downsized to three lawyers and two office staff that we now are able to provide insurance for. Thanks for your efforts. Thanks for the Affordable Care Act.
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