Sen. Carper on the 2nd Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON – On the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee who helped strengthen the health care reform legislation in the Senate, commented on the law’s impact on Delawareans and all Americans. Additionally, as part of his week-long outreach marking the anniversary, he highlighted how the law protects those with pre-existing conditions.

“Since its enactment two years ago, thousands of Delawareans have taken advantage of benefits offered by the Affordable Care Act that increase access to high quality, affordable health care while lowering health care costs,” said Sen. Carper. “Whether it’s extending coverage to our nation’s young adults or closing the prescription drug ‘donut hole’ for our nation’s seniors, the Affordable Care Act has already improved the quality of health care in America, helped curb health care costs, and provided health insurance coverage to more Delawareans and Americans. While we will not fix the problems in our health care system overnight, the Affordable Care Act is the catalyst that will shift our country from a ‘sick-care system’ to a true ‘health-care system’ and get better health care outcomes for less money. Moving forward, Congress, the Administration, and health care experts will continue to work together to look for ways to improve the health care reform law and further strengthen our health care system.”

All week, Sen. Carper has highlighted key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and how they are delivering better health care for less money to Delawareans and all Americans:

• Monday: Sen. Carper highlighted the Affordable Care Act’s impact on seniors. To read more, click here.

• Tuesday: Sen. Carper highlighted the ways health care reform has improved women’s health. To read more, click here.

• Wednesday: Sen. Carper discussed the benefits the Affordable Care Act has provided for young adults. To read more, click here.

• Thursday: Sen. Carper shared many ways in which the health care reform law has lowered the costs of health care. To read more, click here.

Today, Sen. Carper marks two years of health care reform by highlighting how the Affordable Care Act protects Delawareans – and all Americans – with pre-existing conditions.

“Before the Affordable Care Act, thousands of Delawareans and Americans were unfairly denied – or struggled to find – traditional health insurance because they had a pre-existing condition,” said Sen. Carper. “But thanks to the new health care law, most insurance companies are now banned from denying coverage to children under the age of 19 because of a pre-existing condition. Additionally, that protection will extend to Americans of all ages starting in 2014. No American should be denied health care coverage because they are sick. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Delawareans and all Americans can rest assured that they will have health insurance coverage when they need it the most.”

Protections for People with Pre-Existing Conditions:

• Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 320,000 Delawareans and 105,164,000 Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their health insurance plan.

• By 2014 insurers will be banned from placing annual limits or benefit caps on health insurance plans. Insurers are also banned from rescinding or taking away health insurance coverage based on an unintentional mistake on an application.

• For 49,000 children with pre-existing conditions in Delaware, insurance companies must provide health insurance coverage regardless of their health status because of the Affordable Care Act.

• Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 48,879 Americans and 153 Delawareans have gained coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan created by health reform.

• Starting in 2014, traditional health insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions.

To read more about how the Affordable Care Act protects Delawareans with pre-existing conditions, please click here (children) and here (PCIP).

To see all of Sen. Carper’s “health care highlights,” please visit his Health Care Reform web page here.

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