DELAURO LEADS PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE BENEFITS TO WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

New Haven, CT – As part of the second anniversary of the signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) led a panel discussion this morning on the impact of the legislation on women's health care. Participants included prominent women's health researcher Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Teresa Younger, Director of the Connecticut General Assembly's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), and Dr. Emily Fine, an OB/GYN in Hamden, Connecticut.

"Before we acted," said Congresswoman DeLauro, "Having a child, or having had a c-section, or even being a victim of domestic violence were are all too often treated as ‘pre-existing conditions' by health insurance companies. And, women routinely paid more than men for exactly the same coverage, under the discriminatory practice of ‘gender rating.' But now, at long last, a woman's health will be put on an equal footing with that of her spouse, son, and brother. It is a shame that some in Congress want to repeal this Act and take away these benefits."

Passed in March 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is working to enhance women's health by, among other things, ensuring coverage for maternity care and preventive health services, allowing young women under the age of 26 to stay on their parents' plans, giving small businesses affordability tax credits to help pay for coverage, investing in community health centers and the nation's health workforce, and barring the discriminatory practice of gender rating. A report released this week by the National Women's Law Center estimates that the practice of gender rating costs women $1 billion a year. And beginning this fall, standardized summaries of benefits and coverage will be available for the more than 180 million Americans with private health insurance coverage so they can make a comparison of their insurance options.

As a result of the ACA, which will be fully implemented in 2014, over 45 million women, including 20.4 million with private insurance and 24.7 million with Medicare coverage, are now eligible for recommended preventive services with no out of pocket costs. Over 32,000 Connecticut seniors in the Medicare "donut hole" received a $250 rebate, adding up to more than $10.5 million. And over 4 million businesses were eligible for affordability tax credits in 2011, with 520 businesses in our 3rd Congressional district taking advantage of them.