DeLauro Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
“One of the Proudest Votes of My Career”
WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law. DeLauro is the senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Department of Health and Human Services, and was a vocal advocate for passing the ACA.
“One of the proudest votes of my career was the one I cast for the Affordable Care Act. The reforms we put in place are helping families in Connecticut and across the nation. Americans can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. Preventive screenings, maternity care, and pediatric care are all now covered with no co-pay. Seniors enjoy relief from high drug costs. For the first time in history women’s health has been put on an even footing with men’s. Insurers can no longer subject families to lifetime caps on coverage and annual caps are being phased out, keeping families from being driven into bankruptcy by outrageous medical bills.
“The Congressional Budget Office recently cut its estimate of the cost of expanding coverage, a saving of $140 billion compared to previous estimates. In my home state of Connecticut we cut our uninsured rate nearly in half, from 7.9 percent to four percent. Nationwide, about 16.4 million uninsured people have gained health insurance coverage. Thanks to marketplaces like Access Health Connecticut, families now have more choices and access to more quality, affordable health insurance plans than ever before. This will pay off for years to come, as people live healthier, longer and more productive lives.
“The Affordable Care Act has succeeded by putting people, not insurance companies, in charge of healthcare. It has given millions of people care they can depend on. We are a better country because of it. But it is still under attack. The American public deserves better than a re-litigation of past fights that have already been decided. They deserve to have the protections and benefits that are part of the Affordable Care Act in law and not under attack.”
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