CHICAGO, Ill.—A group of Illinoisans were briefed today about how the historic new health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will make health care more affordable and accessible, and make their communities and the nation as a whole stronger and healthier.
Ron Pollack, Executive Director of the consumer health organization Families USA, joined other speakers here today in outlining the vast and growing problems in our health care system that led to passage of the reform law, and how the law addresses those problems.
“Our recent history tells the tale,” Pollack said. “Every year, millions of people are denied health coverage by insurance companies due to pre-existing conditions. Every year, health insurance premiums have climbed far faster than wages, making health coverage unaffordable. Every year, seniors struggle with the costs of prescription drugs, and unemployed workers have lost health coverage and been unable to afford COBRA coverage.”
The new law will halt and reverse these trends, Pollack said. “Under the new law, the 2.5 million non-elderly people in Illinois who were at risk of health coverage denial because they were diagnosed with a serious health condition will have guaranteed access to coverage, regardless of their gender or health status,” he said.
“With the new law, 1,163,000 uninsured Illinoisans will gain health coverage. Diseases will be caught at an earlier and more treatable stage, and these Illinoisans will live longer, more productive lives,” Pollack said.
“Under the new law, our senior citizens will be able to continue to buy their prescription drugs under Medicare without the crushing burden of paying 100 percent of the price when they reach the $2,830 annual threshold, and Illinois seniors who have reached that threshold will see checks arriving this week to help cover their drug bills.
“With the new law, we won’t see premiums rising five times faster than wages in Illinois, as they did from 2000 to 2009, and employers will be able to afford quality plans and be able to hire and keep good workers.
“Under the new law, young adults will be able to stay on their parents' health plans until they are 26, ensuring that they have uninterrupted access to preventive care as they finish advanced schooling and get settled in their own businesses or careers.
“These are great improvements for Illinoisans, and these improvements will make a huge difference in their health and pocketbooks,” Pollack said.
