Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) joined with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a press conference on the consumer reforms in the health care reform legislation, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, and the benefit for Americans who already have insurance. During the press conference, DeLauro introduced two young breast cancer survivors, Catherine Howard of California and Jaclyn Michalos of Massachusetts. Despite being diagnosed with the same disease, the two faced very different financial outcomes – while Catherine’s health insurance did not cover her treatment and she was left to cover $100,000 in medical debt, Jaclyn’s treatment of $125,000 was covered by her insurance with Commonwealth Care.

“Health insurance reform is of immense personal significance to millions of Americans. It affects each one of us personally and financially. It affects our families and our businesses. And it is absolutely essential to our economic recovery. In these tough times, the crushing cost of health care and the prospect of losing your insurance when you need it most are just too much,” DeLauro said during the press conference.

The health care reform legislation will bring much-needed financial security for families in Connecticut. In 2008, there were 950 health care-related bankruptcies in Connecticut’s Third Congressional District, caused primarily by the health care costs not covered by insurance. The bill provides health insurance for almost every American and caps annual out-of-pocket costs at $10,000 per year, ensuring that no citizen will have to face financial ruin because of high health care costs.

DeLauro continued, “Surging health care costs are eating up more and more of the family budget. The price of doing nothing is insurance companies doubling rates again over the next five years. We need to fix health care and lower health care costs, and we need to do it now. People need insurance they can never lose. We need the control over our health care decisions that insurance companies have taken away. And we need coverage they can afford.”

DeLauro has been a vocal proponent of strong consumer protections in the health care reform legislation – advocating for robust transparency and accountability provisions. Both the House tri-committee legislation, which includes the Committees on Education and Labor, Energy & Commerce, and Ways & Means, and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee legislation have incorporated provisions based on DeLauro’s Informed Consumer Choices in Health Care Act of 2009, which would make it easier for consumers to make informed choices about their health insurance coverage.

“It is time to bring basic fairness and common sense back to the system. And consumers need to know they are buying and when they are covered. I am pleased that this health reform bill includes strong transparency requirements so consumers get consistent definitions instead of legalese and hidden coverage gaps. Do you know, most Americans are not sure if their out-of-pocket costs would be limited if they were diagnosed with a disease like cancer,” DeLauro continued. “After we fix health care, nobody is going to have to take a stab in the dark anymore when it comes to their health care coverage.”

DeLauro concluded, “Only comprehensive reform dealing with costs, coverage, and quality of care will truly put us on a sustainable path to the future.”