DeLauro Praises New Health Care Measures for Consumers and Kids

Key provisions of Affordable Care Act go into effect today, 6 months after passage

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro announced today that several critical elements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act go into effect today, six months after the bill was signed into law. These provisions, known as the Patient's Bill of Rights, will put American consumers back in control of their health care.

Starting today, insurance companies cannot rescind coverage just because someone is sick. They can no longer cap lifetime coverage limit and annual coverage limits are being phased out. Children up to age 26 may stay on their parent's health insurance plans and children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied access to insurance. Recommended preventive care – including vaccines, physical exams, pre-natal care, and mammograms — is covered with no out-of-pocket costs. Small businesses can afford to provide health insurance for their employees, with tax credits of up to 35 percent of the cost of premiums for their employees. These benefits and the numerous other provisions that go into effect today are described in detail at: www.healthcare.gov.

"The historic health reform law enacted six months ago today fulfills a promise first made to the American people 100 years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt when he called for comprehensive health insurance reform. The law realizes a promise made by Franklin Roosevelt, who argued that every man and woman in America should have access to medical care and the "opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health."

"Today, we are witnessing that promise become reality, as several of the new health reform law's most important elements take effect. No longer will Americans be subject to lifetime caps on what their health insurance will pay or risk losing their health insurance if they lose their job. Now, young adults will be able to stay on their parents' insurance until age 26. Children with pre-existing conditions will be able to obtain health insurance. The egregious practices of the health insurance companies are now outlawed, and most importantly, American families will have access to the health care they need.

"There is, of course, still progress to be made in this fight. We saw just last week that health insurance companies in Connecticut were raising their premiums by as much as 20 percent, an outrageous figure in today's economy. And we have heard of health insurance companies simply not issuing insurance for children in order to avoid the new law's requirement that children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage. I will keep working to ensure that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care, the promise we made to all Americans, young or old, rich or poor, healthy or sick, man or woman, is kept."