After
its first two years, the Affordable
Care Act is working out very well for many, many
Washingtonians.
Insurance
Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a press release that
“by far the most popular benefit of health reform that we hear about is the
ability for parents to keep their adult kids on their health plans – especially
in today’s economy.” Indeed, so far more
than 52,000 young adults up to age 26 have
stayed on their parents’ health plans.
But lots
of consumers are seeing other very significant benefits:
Prescription drugs for
seniors
62,660 seniors received a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs and 60,209 seniors received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs, which resulted in an average savings of $598 per person, which all added up to a whopping $35,999,334 in savings in our state!
62,660 seniors received a $250 rebate to help cover the cost of their prescription drugs and 60,209 seniors received a 50 percent discount on their covered brand-name prescription drugs, which resulted in an average savings of $598 per person, which all added up to a whopping $35,999,334 in savings in our state!
Preventive services
653,723 people received free preventive services or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor. And 1,239,000 Washingtonians with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing.
653,723 people received free preventive services or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor. And 1,239,000 Washingtonians with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing.
No more lifetime
limits on health benefits2,427,000 Washington residents can breathe easier since they no longer face lifetime caps on their health benefits.
New options for folks
with pre-existing conditions
As of the end of 2011, 708 previously uninsured Washingtonians who were locked out of the coverage system because of a pre-existing condition are now insured. To learn more about the plan go here.
As of the end of 2011, 708 previously uninsured Washingtonians who were locked out of the coverage system because of a pre-existing condition are now insured. To learn more about the plan go here.
Kreidler
said that if the opponents of health reform succeed in overturning the new law,
“what will they say to the nearly one million people in Washington without
health insurance who get up every day hoping they don’t have a medical
emergency? –The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, but it moves us in the
right direction and is the only meaningful health reform that’s passed in
decades.”
To
read this story in Spanish, please click here.
