Approximately half of metropolitan Minneapolis residents benefit
Only two years after its enactment more than half of Metropolitan Minneapolis residents are already benefiting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as the Healthcare Reform bill.
The landmark bill, signed March 23, 2012, made comprehensive health care available to millions of Americans and gave them more control over the coverage they can receive.
Because of ACA insurance companies cannot refuse to cover children with pre-existing conditions like asthma or diabetes. In addition young adults can stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26 and seniors get discounts on prescription drugs, as well as free preventative services. Estimates are that almost half of the people in the Minneapolis area have improved health insurance coverage as a result.
“Just two years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law millions of Americans have been able to take control over their health from insurance bureaucrats and roughly 200,000 people in Greater Minneapolis are already seeing lower costs and better coverage,” Rep. Ellison stated. “What’s more, the 410,000 people in our district who have private health insurance can’t be kicked out of their plan if they become ill. This law is truly proof that ‘when we all do better, we all do better.’”
“As the new benefits of the health care law continue to be implemented, I will stand against partisan efforts to repeal this critical law,” Rep. Ellison added. “Republican attempts to repeal reform will only put the insurance companies back in charge of people’s health, increase individual costs and return us to the days of reduced healthcare for millions of Americans.”
The Affordable Care Act means in the Minneapolis area:
• 5,300 young adults under age 26 now have health insurance;
• 4,900 seniors received prescription drug discounts worth $3.1 million, an average discount of $630 each.
• 40,000 seniors have Medicare preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost.
• 20,000 children and 110,000 adults now have health insurance that covers preventive services
• 620 small businesses received tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees
• 7,000 to 31,000 children with preexisting health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by
• health insurers
• $4.6 million in grants went to community health centers, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers in the district to improve the community’s health.
