Health care reform is working for Virginia's families

June 6, 2012

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, "The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services visited a Richmond home Tuesday in the capital of a state fighting the Obama administration's signature health care law, in order to talk up its provisions impacting women and families. Kathleen Sebelius, surrounded by a half dozen women in a West Avenue living room, listened to them share their personal health care stories -- from mothers worrying about insurance for their children, to a nurse struggling to cover her medication costs."

Progressive Point: Thanks to health care reform, Virginians get the same quality health care choices that Members of Congress have and small businesses get more freedom. But the new law also means a great deal to Virginia's families.

Health care reform means insurance companies can't charge women higher rates than men for the same kind of plans, or deny coverage to women because of pre-existing conditions, like if you've been pregnant, had a C-section, or were a victim of domestic violence. The new law means you can stay on your parents' insurance until you're 26, while you look for a job or finish school. It lowers prescription costs for Virginia's seniors, gets them free preventative care and brings down their Medicare premiums by cracking down on insurance company waste.

Health care reform means you're in charge of your health care decisions, not insurance company CEOs. Virginians want the peace of mind of knowing they and their families will be able to get the health care they need--and today, the new law is already working for Virginia's families and moving us forward.

Get the Facts: Via the Richmond Times-Dispatch:

• "The Affordable Care Act has provided insurance to nearly 50,000 Americans who had been locked out of the insurance marketplace because of a pre-existing condition such as asthma, hypertension or diabetes. What's more, by 2014, these protections will be extended to everyone."


• The reform has provided 32.5 million seniors with accesss to free preventive care benefits.


• Also due to reform, "more than 20 million women receive preventive services, such a mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, without a co-pay, deductible or any other out-of-pocket expenses. And these benefits come with a fair price tag, as the ACA ends the unconscionable discriminatory practices against women that have allowed insurance companies to charge women higher premiums -- even up to 150 percent more -- than men. "


• Under the law, benefits have also been extended to 2.5 million young adults under age 26

Forward to a Friend via email

Share on Facebook

Tweet it: Health care reform is working for Virginia's families http://bit.ly/MGtY8p via @ProgressVA