Overhead view of Sacramento

Congresswoman Matsui Marks the 4th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

October 4, 2017
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 21, 2014

CONTACT: JONELLE TRIMMER
(202) 225-7163

Congresswoman Matsui Marks the 4th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

Highlights that 5 million Americans - including 1 million Californians - have already signed up for coverage in the Marketplaces and urges uninsured Californians to sign up by March 31

CA - With the 4th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act falling on Sunday, March 23, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) today marked this milestone by highlighting the progress made under the law, and urging uninsured Californians to sign up for health insurance by March 31.

"Sunday marks the fourth anniversary of President Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law. Four years after the enactment of this landmark legislation, we are seeing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act as millions of Americans across the country gain access to affordable, quality health insurance," said Congresswoman Matsui. "This law does more than just open up access to health insurance. It also improves the quality of insurance for those Americans who already have it, and ends some of the worst abuses by insurance companies, providing new consumer protections and cost savings."

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act

  • No American can ever again be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.
  • No woman can ever again be charged a higher premium just because she's a woman.
  • No American ever again has to worry that one major illness will mean bankruptcy for their family.
  • No senior will ever again have to pay a co-pay for key preventive services, such as cancer screening

Here are some of the many ways that the Affordable Care Act is helping the people of California:

  • No more discrimination against up to 16,133,000 individuals in California with pre-existing conditions. The up to 16,133,000 individuals in California with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cancer or diabetes - including up to 2,336,000 children - will no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices because of their health status or history.
  • Free key preventive services for 8,061,000 Californians in private plans. 8,061,000 individuals in California in private plans have gained coverage for at least one free preventive health care service, such as a mammogram, birth control, or an immunization in 2011 and 2012.
  • Free key preventive services for 2,115,600 seniors and people with disabilities in California. In the first 11 months of 2013 alone, 2,115,600 people with Medicare in California have received at least one free preventive service at no out-of-pocket cost.
  • 5,560,000 uninsured in California have new coverage options. 5,560,000 Californians now have new health insurance options through private health plans in the Marketplace or Medicaid.
  • 1,433,800 consumers in California have received rebates from insurance companies. As a result of new policies that make sure premium dollars work for the consumer, not just the insurer, in the past year insurance companies have sent rebates totaling $71 per family to approximately 1,433,800 consumers in California.
  • Lower drug costs for many 282,900 seniors and people with disabilities in California. In the first ten months of 2013, 282,900 seniors and people with disabilities in California saved an average of $900 on prescription medications as the health care law closes Medicare's so-called "donut hole."
  • Coverage for 435,000 additional young adults in California, who would otherwise be insured. 435,000 young adults in California have gained health insurance because they can now stay on their parents' health plans until age 26.
  • No lifetime limit on coverage for 12,092,000 Californians. 12,092,000 individuals in California no longer have to worry about having their health benefits cut off after they reach a lifetime limit on benefits. Similarly, as of January 2014, the same number of individuals in California no longer have to worry about annual limits, either.

The benefits of the Affordable Care Act have been felt across the Sacramento region. For example, Sacramento community health centers and school districts received $800,000 to strengthen school-based health centers. And a coalition of 58 local health organizations was awarded a $500,000 grant to implement measures to help improve the region's health.

"Clearly, the Affordable Care Act is having a tangible, positive impact on millions of Californians. Open enrollment in Covered California, our state-based marketplace, closes on March 31. I strongly urge any Californian who is currently uninsured to log on to coveredca.com, see what options are available to them, and sign up for health insurance before March 31," added Matsui.

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