Posted: | October 25, 2017 10:34 AM |
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From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Resolution Recognizing November 2017 as “Affordable Care Act Month” |
In the near future, I plan to introduce a resolution recognizing November 2017 as “Affordable Care Act Month” in Pennsylvania. As we all know, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. Since then, the ACA has provided quality, accessible health insurance coverage for millions of people in the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, more than 700,000 people have benefited from Medicaid expansion since 2015, and more than 426,000 Pennsylvanians receive insurance through the ACA marketplace. That is over 1 million Pennsylvanians who are now able to access quality health care at a price they can afford. The ACA has also protected our most vulnerable populations from being denied health insurance because of pre-existing conditions and ensures access to preventive care to identify and treat diseases before they become emergencies. Unfortunately, recent decisions at the federal level have put these successes in peril and jeopardized health insurance coverage for millions of Pennsylvanians. Just last week, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department projected a 30% average increase in premiums for certain health plans, largely a result of uncertainty surrounding government subsidies. With this uncertainty in our health care industry in mind, by celebrating November 2017 as “Affordable Care Act Month” in the Commonwealth we are recognizing the immeasurable importance that accessible, affordable health care provides to our citizens. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important resolution. |