Home > Legislation > On the Issues > Health Care
Affordable Health Care for America PDF Print

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. As Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Becerra worked hard to make the dream of quality, affordable health care a reality for America's working families. In the two years since, Americans are already seeing lower costs & better coverage:

  • 86 million Americans, including both seniors in Medicare and Americans under age 65 in private plans, have received one or more free preventive services, such as check-ups and cancer screenings.
  • 105 million Americans have had a lifetime limit on their coverage eliminated.
  • Up to 17 million children who have pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers.
  • 2.5 million additional young adults up to age 26 now have health insurance.
  • 5.2 million seniors in the ‘donut hole’ have received savings on their prescription drugs.
  • $3.9 billion is the amount that seniors in the ‘donut hole’ have saved on their prescription drugs.

  • In the first half of 2012, over 1 million people with Medicare saved a total of $687 million on prescription drugs in “donut hole” coverage gap for an average of $629 in savings this year.

  • By the time the Affordable Care is fully implemented and the prescription drug "donut hole" is completely closed, the average Medicare beneficiary will have saved nearly $4,000.
  • 2.3 million seniors have taken advantage of a free Annual Wellness Visit under Medicare.
  • 360,000 small employers have used the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to help them afford health insurance for 2 million workers in 2011.

And in less than 2 years, 30 million uninsured Americans will be able to purchase affordable health insurance coverage for their families. 

Your New CHOICES Under Health Care Reform

  • Are you a small business owner, looking to cover your employees?
  • A freelancer, trying to insure yourself and your family?
  • Or the parent of a recent college graduate who can't find a job that offers health coverage?

Millions of Americans who have had trouble finding affordable health insurance now have new rights and options. And the easiest way to find them is on the website HealthCare.gov.

badge-hhs-healthcare

Your New RIGHTS Under Health Care Reform

The days when your family could be plunged into devastating medical debt and bankruptcy because of a serious medical condition are becoming history. The Patients' Bill of Rights puts you and your doctor back in charge of your health care--and puts the insurance company bureaucrats in check.

INSURERS CAN NO LONGER

  • Deny you coverage when you get sick
  • Put annual or lifetime limits on your coverage
  • Deny coverage to children with pre-existing medical conditions
  • Deny payment for a test or treatment without a chance to appeal

IN NEW PLANS, YOU CAN:

  • Keep your children on your plan until age 26
  • Receive cost-free preventive services
  • Choose your own primary care doctor
  • Use the nearest emergency room without penalty

MORE ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

Health Care Reform Milestones

On the first anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law, Rep. Becerra released the following video message on the new rights and choices that are now there for American families:

On April 6, 2010 Rep. Becerra held a briefing at Arroyo Vista Family Health Center in Lincoln Heights to highlight the benefits of health care reform that will be seen in Los Angeles. You can view video of the event here:

On November 7, the House of Representative took a historic vote and passed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

On February 25, 2010, Rep. Becerra joined House and Senate leaders of both parties to meet with President Obama at the Blair House to discuss moving forward with comprehensive health reform. You can view his remarks here:

On March 21, 2010, Rep. Becerra joined a majority in the House of Representatives and voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Reconciliation Act of 2010, the final version of health insurance reform. You can view his floor statement urging passage of the legislation here:

Hearing From You: Telephone Town Hall Series

Throughout the summer of 2009, Rep. Becerra held a series of telephone town halls on health care reform; you can listen to the conversations by clicking on the following streaming links (Windows Media Player required):

September 3, 2009
16pxspeakerTele-Town Hall on Health Care Reform #4

August 27, 2009
16pxspeakerTele-Town Hall on Health Care Reform #3

August 11, 2009
16pxspeakerTele-Town Hall on Health Care Reform #2

June 11, 2009
16pxspeakerTele-Town Hall on Health Care Reform #1

RELATED ARTICLES ON HEALTH CARE
 

Legislation

Follow Xavier

Upcoming Events


Subscribe with Outlook or iCal (.ics file)