Workers to House Republicans: ‘Health Care Reform Works’

by Mike Hall, Jan 10, 2011

In Florida, Gloria’s daughter, like so many young people today, returned home from college “with a BA degree and no job.”
But her daughter does have health care coverage—and Gloria has peace of mind—because the new health care reform law allows young adults to remain on their parents’ health care plans until they are 26.
“Having that alone makes life better for my family,” Gloria writes. “This [health care reform plan] told me someone in government is working for our future and our children. Now my daughter has time to get a job with benefits within the next two years…the health care plan is working.”
Gloria is one of the more than 400 people who have responded to our AFL-CIO online survey, telling us how the Affordable Care Act—which House Republicans vow to repeal—is working for them. (Click here to share your story and read and comment on others.) While not all of the health care reform provisions have gone into effect, several key benefits are already helping working families. (See what’s in effect now and when other provisions will kick in here.)

Pam in Ohio says the Affordable Care Act’s rule that prohibits health insurance companies from putting a lifetime cap on benefits or dropping coverage when people become sick, means her brother can receive care and treatment for his cancer.

My brother has a form of metastatic cancer. With medication he may live for years, but will likely always need treatment—unless by some miracle a cure is discovered soon! But, in a sense, the new health care law has already worked one miracle for him and many other cancer patients by doing away with annual and lifetime limits. This change will ensure my brother never need fear being told that his coverage has ended because he has reached their lifetime limit.

The health care reform law is closing the infamous Medicare prescription drug “donut hole,” the gap in coverage when seniors must pay full price for their needed medications. Last year, seniors who found themselves in the donut hole received a $250 rebate, and this year they will receive a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs.
Tauni from Kansas says that closing the donut hole will make a big difference for her parents who “did everything the Republicans said to do.  My father went to school and received a degree in architecture….He worked hard. They saved money for retirement. They invested the money. They did not spend recklessly.”

Then the stock market crashed, and they lost a good percentage of the money they worked so hard for.  My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s approximately three years ago.  The disease is slowly robbing him of his ability to perform tasks without medication.  The medications he must take to function on a daily basis are so expensive, and he takes enough that he ends up in the doughnut hole. Thanks to the new health care bill, affording the medication will be easier and maybe they can enjoy their retirement a little more.

One small business owner says the new law’s tax credits to help small business owners provide health insurance for their employees is working. Also, one of his employees will be able to fight her cancer without being dropped from coverage.

I own a small assisted living facility, and employ 16 people.  Between 2004 and 2007, our insurance premiums for our employees have risen 42 percent.  We really believe that we have an obligation to our employees to provide this care.  Health care reform has given us a 35 percent tax credit on these costs.  We really need this. Also, our manager has had cancer, and under reform, she cannot be cut or capped for care. These are the real Americans. Going to work every day, and doing the tough jobs.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover preventative care such as mammograms, annual physicals and cancer screenings without deductibles or co-pays.  As Dianna in Tennessee says, “This new rule means I am not going to be hit with deductibles or outrageous lab fees when I have my physical this year.”

Last year my insurance refused to pay for my physical and I was hit with an $89 lab fee for my PAP smear. The hospital charged over $700 for the lab work associated with my physical.

Preventative care WORKS! About time we have it.

Marva from Indiana says that while she’s benefited from the no-cost preventative services and tests—“This reduces my risk for stroke, heart attack, regiments of drug therapies and a healthier life”—health care reform means much more.

This is a better scenario for me and the American people. We pay lots of money for health care into insurance companies and they should be about the business of serving their clients, not playing games with our hard-earned dollars to pay their high premiums. It is criminal for them to be using our money on lobbying and electing candidates to go against the American people. It is time for a ground swell from the grassroots American people. We have made too many rich people giving them free money and getting very little in return. Health care must abound in this country for everyone!

By 2020, the Affordable Care Act will bring health care coverage to nearly 30 million Americans. Dr. Brad Cotton from Circleville, Ohio, sees first hand what lack of health coverage means today and what health care reform will mean in the future.

As an emergency physician, I am face to face with the unspeakable suffering of the uninsured and under-insured every day. While the [Affordable Care Act]  is not far-reaching enough, it will bring the security and safety of insurance to millions of working folks.