PRESS RELEASE from Democratic National Committee

For Immediate Release

March 23, 2011

Contact: DNC Press 

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Says Americans and Small Businesses Feeling the Positive Effects of the Affordable Care Act, Says Repeal Would Be ‘Catastrophic’

Americans Benefiting From Reform Also Tell Their Stories

LISTEN to Audio of the Call HERE: http://my.democrats.org/page/-/audio/calls/ConfCallDWS032211.mp3

Washington, D.C. – Today on a DNC call, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) marked the one year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law. Wasserman Schultz was joined by several Americans who talked about how they have benefited from the unprecedented patient protections included in the Affordable Care Act.
Wasserman Schultz also blasted Republicans for continuing their political and partisan attempts to repeal and defund the law.  She argued that a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would put control of Americans’ health care back into the hands of insurance companies, hurt the ability of small businesses to create jobs, and explode the national deficit.
See below for key quotes from the call:
 
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
 
“Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law one year ago, American small businesses and families are already starting to feel the effect. Families no longer have to worry about losing their insurance, or having it capped unexpectedly if someone is in an accident or becomes sick; small business owners no longer need to fear insurance companies raising premiums by double digits with no recourse or accountability…and parents now have the choice of providing health coverage for a child after they finish school by allowing young adults up to the age of 26 to stay on their parents insurance. [In addition] independent estimates show it will reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars by cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse and stopping hundreds of billions in unfair and irresponsible subsidies to insurance companies that are now paid by taxpayers.”
…
“Republicans in Congress continue their attempts to unravel the law that holds insurance companies in check.  If they have their way, Republicans will allow insurance companies to once again deny coverage to children with existing conditions, cancel coverage when people get sick, and limit the amount of care you can get − even if you need it.  When the insurance companies are free to pursue their profits without any accountability, people have fewer choices, fewer options, and little recourse. Republicans continue to refight the political battles of the past while the American people are ready to move on. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would be catastrophic for American families, and it would explode the national deficit.”
 
Hope Richardson (Senior at North Carolina State)
 
“I, like millions of other Americans, am benefitting from the Affordable Care Act that President Obama signed into law one year ago today. When I graduate college in December, I will be able to stay on my family’s health care plan while I prepare to continue my academic studies by enrolling in law school. 
 
“But before the Affordable Care Act passed last March, students in North Carolina were dropped from their parents’ health insurance almost immediately after graduating -- those graduating in May would be dropped June 1st. However, the Affordable Care Act allows parents to choose to keep their adult children on their insurance until age 26 while they look for work, take jobs that don’t have benefits or are applying to school. I thank our elected leaders who have fought so tirelessly for the rights of people and families like mine.”
 
Zena Thorpe (Senior Citizen from Chatsworth, CA)
 
“I have to thank the Affordable Care Act for helping to pull me out of the donut hole. In 2009 I fell into the donut hole because of the expensive medication I was taking for breast cancer that cost about $1,000 every 90 days.”
…
“It’s remarkably easy for a senior to fall into the donut hole, so I was very grateful for the $250 check from the Affordable Care Act that helped me with the medication costs. And I understand that eventually the Affordable Care Act will completely close the donut hole and I will look forward to that.”
 
Don Orange (Small Business Owner from Vancouver, WA)
 
“[The Affordable Care Act] has created a tax credit that will save me money on last year’s insurance and will pay the premium for all of December and part of November on my [employees], which makes it a lot easier for me to compete for the best people in town.  And it’s also just the right way to take care of the people that I work with that are like family that help me earn my living.”
…
“From a business point of view, [the Affordable Care Act] is something that knocks down the deficit, gives me the best tax break we’ve had in years, and covers an increasing number of people on health insurance right now.”
 
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from OFA Press

Please see the below email from Vice President Biden to the OFA list to mark the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law.

Friend --

I want to tell you about a family in Minnesota.

Justin and Kari live in Brooklyn Park, right outside of Minneapolis. They're parents to three children. Their three-year-old, William, was born with a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex.

For the rest of his life, William will wrestle with tumors in his brain, his heart, his kidneys, his skin, and possibly other major organs. He must take medication to control seizures and faces the threat of kidney disease.

What Justin and Kari want for William is a future. And because of health reform, that's what he'll have.

Today, insurance companies are no longer able to discriminate against William because of the condition he's dealt with since birth. Now, Justin and Kari know they'll be able to get the kind of care that William needs -- today and into the future.

Their story isn't unique, but it's one of many that need to be told. We all know people whose lives have been changed because of the Affordable Care Act, even if we don't realize it. So we've found a way to show exactly how reform is working for all of us -- for our parents, our siblings, our kids, us.

Will you take a minute to take our Health Reform Checkup and let the people you love know how reform is working for them?

Before the Affordable Care Act, Justin and Kari weren't sure about the future. They worried that they'd never be able to find coverage for William again if Justin lost his job. They worried about the life that William would lead -- whether he'd ever be able to work or support a family.

Not anymore. William's condition isn't going away, but he'll always be able to get care. The Affordable Care Act is one year old today, and it has already changed William's life -- and this country -- for good.

Today, there are families who feel better about the future than they did a year ago. They've found some security, some relief. And these are people we know. They're our neighbors, our colleagues, our friends, our families -- the people next to us every day.

On the one-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, I think we have a duty to discuss how reform is already working.

Watch Justin and Kari tell their story, and take a moment to learn how health reform is changing the lives of those you know:

http://my.barackobama.com/Checkup

A year ago, I stood next to the President as he signed health reform into law -- and we have you to thank for making that possible.

Yours,

Joe


healthcare.democrats.org 
(my.barackobama.com/Checkup)
This is a DNC website: "Someone you know has been helped by health reform"

PRESS RELEASE from DCCC
March 23, 2011
DCCC Chairman Steve Israel’s Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Health Insurance Reform

 DCCC Chairman Steve Israel released the following statement today on the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:
 
“One year ago, President Obama signed the historic health insurance reform act, putting Americans back in charge of their own health care.  Today, we rededicate ourselves to standing together to fight Republicans’ reckless attempts to repeal health insurance reform, taking away protections for seniors, families, children, and small businesses.
 
“Americans cannot afford Republicans’ attempts to put insurance companies back in charge of our health care. We will continue to fight Republicans’ attempts to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Young people would no longer be able to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, cancer patients would continue to be denied insurance, and seniors would face higher prescription drug costs. We will not allow Republicans to turn back the clock.
 
“Republicans have made clear that repealing health insurance reform – not getting Americans back to work – is their number one priority.  Making matters worse, Republicans hypocritically voted to take away health insurance from their constituents while voting to protect their own taxpayer funded health insurance.  The American people deserve better.”

 

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