A Special Video Message for America's Seniors

Today, as we celebrate the one year anniversary of the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, I wanted to share a video I made with my Co-Chair of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. Together, we explain how the health care law is benefitting America's seniors.

For instance, the health care law provides for a free yearly wellness visit under Medicare, beginning this year. And it provides preventive services, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and diabetes screenings, at no cost. The law improves the quality of care seniors receive under Medicare, by rewarding doctors not just based on the amount of care they provide, but on the quality of the care they provide.

The health care law also reduces prescription drug costs under Medicare. In fact, in January and February of this year, 48,000 seniors across the country saved over $38 million on drug costs thanks to the new law. Additionally, the health care law works to give seniors choices with the new Community First Choice Option, allowing states to offer home-based services instead of nursing home care.

In the video, Congresswoman Schakowsky and I also discuss what the law does not do, because there have been a lot of myths out there. The law does not take away guaranteed Medicare benefits - in fact, it puts new ones in place, like the free wellness visit. The law does not take away your choice of doctor either; it actually gives you more choices by expanding medical training and scholarship opportunities to increase the number of doctors and nurses, including those who are specially trained to care for seniors. Most importantly, the law does not ration care: patients and their doctors continue to make decisions about their health, and there are no care limits based on age or health status. It doesn't matter whether you're 2, 22, or 102.

I hope that you have begun to see some of these benefits in your own life. Please know that I will continue fighting to see that you have the health care you need and deserve.

As always, if you would like more information, or if I can be of any assistance, do not hesitate to call my office at (916) 498-5600.