The House of Representatives has taken an historic first step in providing Americans accessible, affordable, and quality health care.
I’m proud to have voted for HR 3962, the Affordable Health Care For America Act. HR 3962 lowers costs for every patient, reins in premiums, copays and deductibles, limits out of pocket cost, and lifts the cap on the amount that insurance companies cover each year. It also strengthens Medicare by securing its financial stability and solvency for years to come, and provides seniors with better benefits and guaranteed access to their doctors. HR 3962 provides affordable coverage to those who cannot get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions, including domestic violence and pregnancy, and protects consumers from higher rates due to gender or other factors. Today, we spend 53% more on health care per capita than any other nation in the world, while a tragic 47 million Americans still remain uninsured. HR 3962 responds to this crisis.
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this momentous reform
and would like to highlight some areas of the bill that specifically
impact the 14th Congressional District of New York.
HR 3962 will improve employer-based coverage for 440,000
residents in my district and will provide credits to help pay for
coverage for up to 120,000 households.
It will also improve Medicare for 88,000 beneficiaries, including closing the prescription drug donut hole for 8,100 seniors.
HR 3962 will allow 33,300 small businesses to obtain
affordable health care coverage and provide tax credits to help reduce
health insurance costs for up to 31,300 small businesses and will cover
26,000 uninsured residents.
In short, HR 3962 will make health care affordable for the middle
class, provide security for seniors, and will guarantee access to
health insurance coverage for the uninsured while reducing the federal
deficit over the next ten years and beyond. HR 3962 is right for our
families, for our economy and for our future. We are making a lasting
difference in the lives of Americans for generations to come.
