DeLauro Leads Panel Discussion on Women’s Health Care

Affordable Care Act Has Advanced Medical Care for AllFamilies

MIDDLETOWN, CT—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), joined byCongressman Chris Murphy (CT-5), led a panel discussion this morning on women'shealth care. Other participants were Teresa Younger, Executive Directorof the Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women; Dr. KristenZarfos, Medical Director of the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at SaintFrancis Medical Group; and Margaret Flinter, Senior Vice President and ClinicalDirector at Community Health Center, Inc.

"Before the Affordable Care Act passed, being a woman waspractically a preexisting condition," DeLauro said. "We knew for afact that insurers were not just going to go ahead and change discriminatorypolicies on their own. Denying women coverage because they had been avictim of domestic violence or had a C-section was all too common. Andthe outrageous practice of ‘gender rating'—charging a woman more for healthcare simply because she is a woman—drove up premiums that families could barelyafford to pay in the first place.

"But because we fought long and hard, that will soon be inthe past and at long last a woman's health has been put on an equal footing withthat of her spouse, son and brother. This will help improve the health ofwell-being of women and families across the country and move us from a ‘sickcare' system to one that prioritizes wellness of preventative health and placesan equal value on the health of men and women alike."

"We had a great discussion today, hearing firsthand howthe Affordable Care Act has positively impacted the lives of Connecticutwomen," Murphy said. "No longer are insurance companiesallowed to discriminate against women simply because of their gender or denycoverage to women because they've given birth. Mammograms are now covered underpreventative care. And while there is still more to do, we've taken a giantstep toward ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordablehealth care."

Connecticut women have already begun to see benefits fromthe Affordable Care Act, including the 32,000 seniors who received a $250rebate to relieve prescription drug costs. Another 86,000 seniors in theThird District were able to take advantage of preventive services with noout-of-pocket cost last year. Despite these and other real benefits formillions of Americans, Republicans have remained committed to repealing theAffordable Care Act.