Rep. Schakowsky Statement on the Anniversary of The Patient’s Bill of Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Adjoa Adofo; 202.225.2111
One Year Later, Affordable Care Act Already Improving Coverage and Lowering Costs for Millions of Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 23, 2011) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to the first anniversary of Patient's Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act.
"Today marks the first anniversary of the Patients' Bill of Rights -- consumer protections that are already working to provide health security for children, young adults, people with disabilities and seniors.
If you're a child, your parents' insurance company can no longer deny you coverage because you have a pre-existing condition.
If you're a young adult, you can stay on your parents' health plan until your 26th birthday if you are in school or cannot find a job that provides insurance.
If you're a senior citizen or person with a disability on Medicare, you are now getting help paying for your prescription needs if you fall into the coverage gap known as the "donut hole.... You can also get preventive health services — like mammograms, colonoscopies, and a new annual wellness exam.
If you are insured and have a costly health care problem, your insurance company cannot scour your application searching for a technical error so it can cancel your policy. Your insurer is also prevented from imposing lifetime limits on the benefits you receive - limits that leave you on your own to pay your medical bills. Illinois ranked number one in these 'rescissions....
Millions of Americans — including over a million Illinoisans — have already benefitted from these protections. And more help is on the way.
Beginning in 2014, you can no longer be charged higher premiums just because you are a woman or health an existing health care problem. You cannot be denied coverage. Adults will join children in knowing that their "pre-existing conditions... will be covered.
The Patients' Bill of Rights — part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — is already working. We must act to ensure that we build on the successes of the last year by letting implementation move forward....
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