Skip to main content

Attacks on Health Insurance Reform: What's at Stake for California

January 7, 2011
Pelosi Update

As we begin the 112th Congress, my number one priority will continue to be putting Americans to work. Each new proposal will be measured by a simple test: does it create jobs? Does it strengthen our middle class? And does it reduce the deficit?

Instead of joining Democrats in our efforts for job creation, the Republican majority plans to bring a bill to the floor next week to repeal historic health insurance reform – putting insurance companies back in charge and repealing patient’s rights. Instead of reducing the deficit, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office stated this week the repeal bill would add $230 billion to the deficit over the first ten years and more than $1.2 trillion in the second decade.

As your representative in Congress, I will fight to ensure that children with pre-existing conditions continue to get coverage; that young people can stay on their parents’ plans until age 26; that pregnant women and cancer survivors can no longer be thrown off the rolls; and that seniors do not pay higher drug prices.

Without the Affordable Care Act:

  • 196,000 young adults in California would lose their insurance coverage through their parents’ health plans.
  • More than 18.8 million residents of California would be vulnerable to having lifetime limits placed on how much insurance companies will spend on their health care.
  • 2,705,000 people in California would be at risk of losing their insurance at the moment they need it most.
  • Nearly 4.5 million seniors in California who have Medicare coverage would be forced to pay a co-pay to receive preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
  • 269,623 Californians on Medicare would see significantly higher prescription drug costs.

Congratulating Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Newsom, and Attorney General Harris

This week, California begins a new era of leadership with the swearing-in of our statewide office holders, including accomplished public servants Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, and Attorney General Kamala Harris. It is with particular pride that we celebrate our fellow San Franciscans, Gavin and Kamala, who will bring San Francisco values of innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and equality of opportunity to their work for all of California.

Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site. I am also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.