WASHINGTON, DC—Today, House committees jointly announced the American Affordable Health Choices Act to reform our health care system and ensure affordable, quality care for all Americans. House Leadership and the committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means worked jointly to develop and introduce the legislation. Following today’s announcement, Representative Xavier Becerra, Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement:
“Today the People’s House is taking a giant leap forward toward the goal of reforming our health care system to provide accessible, affordable and high quality health care for all American families. This is a strong starting point, as it addresses the major challenges that the current health care system presents from cost to accessibility to quality. At the same time, it builds on the parts of our system that work, ensuring that those who like their current doctors and plans will keep them. With this health reform plan, working families can rest assured that they will receive better health care, at a lower cost with a wider array of plans and doctors to choose from. They will also have the peace of mind that they will not go bankrupt because of medical expenses, thanks to the caps on annual out-of-pocket spending. I look forward to voting on this legislation soon and seeing meaningful health care reform signed into law this year.”
Our health care reform fulfills commitments made by this Congress and President Obama to reform health care. The plan offers:
LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS
- No more co-pays or deductibles for preventive care
- An annual cap on out-of-pocket expenses—keeping Americans from financial ruin
- An end to rate increases for pre-existing conditions, gender or occupation
- Group rates of a national pool if you buy your own plan
- Guaranteed affordable oral health, hearing and vision care for kids
GREATER CHOICE
- If you like your doctor and current plan you can keep them
- More choice, with a public health insurance option competing with private insurers
STABILITY & PEACE OF MIND
- End to denials for pre-existing conditions like heart disease, cancer or diabetes
- Get needed care, no lifetime limits
- Job and life choices no longer based on health care coverage
HIGHER QUALITY
- Doctors, not insurance giants, in charge
- More family doctors and nurses entering the workforce, helping to guarantee access
- Benefits must include mental health
More information on health care reform:
What’s in the health care reform bill for you?
The cost of inaction
Myth vs. fact on health care reform
Strengthening Medicare
# # # BECERRA.HOUSE.GOV # # #