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Pelosi: Millions of Californians, Americans Nationwide Benefitting from ACA’s Protections & Savings

December 19, 2013

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi highlighted the state-by-state reports on the millions of Americans benefiting from the protections and savings of the Affordable Care Act released by the White House earlier today:

"The Affordable Care Act is delivering security and savings for millions across the country – helping millions of seniors pay less for their prescription drug costs, enabling millions of young adults to stay on their parents' coverage until age 26, making quality, affordable insurance available for millions of uninsured Americans, and at long last establishing that being a woman is not a pre-existing condition," Leader Pelosi said. "The Affordable Care Act has ended some of the worst practices of the insurance companies and given Americans new confidence that their coverage will be there for them when they need it most."

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, in California alone:

· 8,061,000 individuals on private insurance have gained coverage for at least one free preventive health care service such as a mammogram, birth control, or an immunization in 2011 and 2012. In the first eleven months of 2013 alone, an additional 2,115,600 people with Medicare have received at least one preventive service at no out of pocket cost.

· The up to 16,133,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, cancer, or diabetes – including up to 2,236,000 children – will no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher prices because of their health status or history.

· Approximately 7,559,000 Californians have gained expanded mental health and substance use disorder benefits and/or federal parity protections.

· 5,560,000 uninsured Californians will have new health insurance options through Medicaid or private health plans in the Marketplace.

· As a result of new policies that make sure premium dollars work for the consumer, not just the insurer, in the past year insurance companies have sent rebates averaging $71 per family to approximately 1,433,800 consumers.

· In the first ten months of 2013, 282,900 seniors and people with disabilities have saved on average $900 on prescription medications as the health care law closes Medicare's so-called "donut hole."

· 435,000 young adults have gained health insurance because they can now stay on their parents' health plans until age 26.

· Individuals no longer have to worry about having their health benefits cut off after they reach a lifetime limit on benefits, and starting in January, 12,092,000 Californians will no longer have to worry about annual limits, either.

· Health centers have received $647,300,000 to provide primary care, establish new sites, and renovate existing centers to expand access to quality health care. California has approximately 1,200 health center sites, which served about 3,262,000 individuals in 2012.

"Despite the fact that so many millions nationwide are seeing the tangible protections and savings of the Affordable Care Act, Republicans continue their obsession with repeal. Republicans should stop trying to pull the rug out from under the millions of seniors, children, women and families who depend on the Affordable Care Act for the affordable, quality health coverage they need," said Leader Pelosi. "It's time for Republicans to stop rooting for failure, and start working with Democrats to strengthen the health law for all Americans."

Click here for the White House's report on the national costs of repeal.

Click here for the White House's state-by-state breakdown of the millions benefiting from the Affordable Care Act.

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Issues:Health Care