REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD: SUPREME COURT HEALTHCARE RULING A MAJOR VICTORY
Washington, D.C.,
Jun 28 -
Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard released the following statement applauding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act:
“This ruling is wonderful news. The Court has decided, and now we can move forward and get people the coverage they need. Today, if you have a pre-existing condition, you can rest assured that you will always have access to health care. If you need preventative care—a cancer screening, diabetes test, a flu shot—these services will be covered. Beginning in 2014, your insurance company can no longer charge you more for being a woman and if you lose your job, or your employer doesn’t offer insurance, you will be able to buy affordable coverage.
This ruling is particularly important for minorities in our country, who make up 30% of the population, but are 50% of the uninsured. Every year more than 83,000 racial and ethnic minorities die because they don’t have access to high quality health care. The Affordable Care Act is a landmark health equity law that extends health coverage to 32 million more individuals and provides the critical investments and reforms necessary to eliminate health care disparities, especially in minority and underserved communities.
Some benefits of this law are already being seen—seniors are paying less for prescription drugs as the donut hole is closing, and young people are staying on their parents’ insurance as they look for work in today’s economy. Community health centers are expanding, meaning more options and accessible services. Whether you’re a senior, a young person or someone living with a preexisting condition, the days of worrying about losing coverage are now over.
Now that the fight is over, we can focus on making sure that the Affordable Care Act is implemented in a manner that maximizes access, coverage and care. Today is the beginning of a new chapter of stability and security in our nation’s health care system.”
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard is the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force.
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