Sen. Carper’s Statement on the 5th Anniversary of the Signing of the Affordable Care Act

WASHINGTON – Today, on the five-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee who helped strengthen the health care reform legislation in the Senate, released the following statement highlighting the law’s benefits throughout Delaware and the United States:

“Five years ago today, ‎the Affordable Care Act became law and began the most comprehensive overhaul of our health care system in modern history.  In the years since, more than 16 million uninsured Americans have gained coverage, through new options such as the health care marketplaces, leading to the largest drop in the nation’s uninsured rate in four decades. Insurance coverage has become more comprehensive, covering preventive care without cost sharing and encouraging Americans to be proactive about their health. And thanks to the law, Americans no longer have to worry about being denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition, or being dropped from their plan if they get sick and need to use their insurance.

“In Delaware, tens of thousands of residents have found affordable coverage through the state marketplace. Six thousand previously uninsured young adults can now stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, and 10,000 more Delawareans are now eligible for Medicaid. Medicare’s prescription ‘doughnut hole’ gap is closing for Delaware seniors, who have saved more than $1,000 each on average on their medications.

“These critical changes are already improving health care outcomes while slowing the growth of health care costs. The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that medical care savings with the Affordable Care Act have lowered the 10-year projected cost of the law by 11 percent. This means that today, more Americans have health insurance, their coverage is better, and we are making headway to contain and lower the cost of our health care system.

“While skeptics remain, a lot of people are looking at the Affordable Care Act in a different light than they were five years ago, and when we look back in 50 years, I am confident that even more Americans will embrace its enormous contribution to the health of our citizens and our economy. But as we look ahead to the future of health care in our country, we must continue to strive for excellence and make improvements to the law where we find they are needed. If we communicate and compromise, I am convinced that Democrats and Republicans can find common ground‎ to make this good law even better and bring about a healthier America.”
 

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