Cheers to Our Health
Today marks nearly a decade since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The law has shifted the narrative from volume to value all while expanding access to quality health care. In the last nine years, the ACA has helped thousands of families in Washington get healthy and stay healthy.
The ACA has changed the landscape of health care in our community in several ways:
- Our uninsured population dropped from 13.9 percent to 5.8 percent, translating to almost 65,000 individuals getting health care coverage in our district alone.
- Roughly three million Washingtonians have pre-existing conditions. Thanks to the ACA, they can now access the medical care they need.
- Preventative care like cancer screenings and wellness checks are on the rise – available to many with low or no co-pay.
- Young people can remain on their parents' health insurance until their 26th birthday.
I have cosponsored legislation to combat the attacks to the ACA by the Trump Administration and am committed to protecting the progress we've made. I support the expansion of a public option for health care alongside private insurers to drive marketplace competition and to ensure that every American has access to the care they need.
Together, we can continue improving health care for Americans at all stages of life, whether that is access to affordable care for families and students, improving Medicare for our seniors, or expanding the benefits for our Veterans at the VA.
Cheers to more anniversaries in good health,
Rick