Tag Archives: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Two years ago when health care reform was on the line, thousands of Washingtonians shared their personal stories — and that helped shape the national debate.

Then, President Obama accomplished what presidents from both parties had tried to do for more than 70 years. He’ll be the first to admit he didn’t do it alone — he was bolstered by people like you who stood up to fight for reform.

Now, as we approach the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we want to check in on the progress that’s been made. This is going to be a key issue in this election, and your stories will help show voters how this law is already helping millions.

Share how health care reform has helped you or someone you know.

If you’d rather make a video to tell your story, we’re all for it: Just upload it to YouTube and send us the link.

Before reform, hundreds of thousands of families each year would find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy just because someone got sick. Pre-existing conditions allowed insurance companies to deny coverage to children. A coverage gap for prescription drugs caught seniors by surprise, costing them hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

But then you spoke up and stood with President Obama for change. And on March 23rd, 2010, we made history by helping pass the Affordable Care Act.

Now, two years later, folks are starting to see the real-life impact of reform.

In Washington alone, 2.4 million people no longer have a lifetime limit on coverage; 483,000 women have seen their coverage for preventive services like mammograms expanded; 500,000 seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare have already received free preventive care; and 52,000 young people who would otherwise be uninsured are staying on their parents’ insurance plans until they turn 26.

This isn’t where the story ends. The other side is bent on taking down the health reform we fought so hard for.

Will you help tell the story of the Affordable Care Act and why it matters to families in Washington, and across the country?

Or, submit a video telling your story:

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O’Malley Dillon
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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HCAN has a New website! Defends Affordable Care Act & Medicare&Medicaid

03/01/2012 Nativegrl77

HCAN has a cool new website!

Our goal was to create a visually pleasing site that provides unique information about our federal and state campaigns. HCAN is pushing to defend and implement the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and hold corporations and the GOP accountable for attacking our health care, the public sector, labor unions and all things that benefit the 99%.

On our home page, we highlight our most recent actions, reports and important news items. Scroll down to see a list of the latest Press Releases, a revamped B log and our Grassroots in Action section, which highlights the work of our partners and features videos and photos of actions. The Must Read section has top news stories affecting HCAN’s work, health reform and progressive change. In the HCAN In The News area, we highlight the workHCAN and our partner organizations are doing to ensure access to quality, affordable health care and to expose the role of corporations in undermining our democracy.

Further down the page there are Resources, a little bit more about our organization, and the many ways you can connect to Health Care for America Now through social media.

One of the most useful new features on the site is the Our Issues area, where visitors will find in-depth information about the specific topics we focus on:

Hope that you enjoy using the new site!

Will O’Neill
Health Care for America Now

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From GALLUP.Com: Texas and Mass. Still at Health Coverage Extremes in U.S.

10/12/2011 Nativegrl77

Texas residents continue to be the most likely in the United States to lack health coverage, with 27.2% reporting being uninsured in the first half of 2011. At the other end of the spectrum is Massachusetts, where 5.3% of adults are uninsured.

www.GALLUP.com

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The Affordable Care Act … a refresher

07/25/2011 Nativegrl77

White House Official blog

The Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in March 2010, gives you better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more choice, and enhance the quality of care for all Americans.

SEE: How it works Starting Sept. 23, 2010 A bridge to 2014 Reducing Costs Progress

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Highlighting the Unseen Human Costs of War

06/21/2011 Nativegrl77

Highlighting the Unseen Human Costs of War in Afghanistan

At a Senate hearing last week, I urged Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffAdmiral Mullen to address concerns over the unseen human cost of war, including the rising rate of suicide among veterans, the lack of access to much needed mental health care, and the increasednumber of tours of current service members. I also asked if these concerns were taken into consideration as factors for a drawdown in Afghanistan. read more >> http://mta.hilltopcms.com/?r=MTAwOA0KSjU1NTgtMjMyY2JmNGUtNGVmNy00ZWU0LTljZmUtODAzZWY3MmU5ZjEwDQplNmIyYTk1YS01MzZjLTRiM2QtOTY4Yy1jZGQyM2Q4NGE0OTANCjhhMDAwMDAwOWU1MzhlDQpodHRwOi8vbXVycmF5LnNlbmF0ZS5nb3YvcHVibGljL2luZGV4LmNmbT9wPU5ld3NSZWxlYXNlcyZDb250ZW50UmVjb3JkX2lkPWIwY2Q0Njc0LTQ3ZGEtNDcwMi1hNGU4LTE0ZDRlMTJmZjViNQ0KdHJ1ZQ0KeW5hdGl2ZTc3QGdtYWlsLmNvbQ%3d%3d

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Going to Bat for Seattle Sports Fans

Last week, I applauded the announcement that an effort to block legislation I authored, which would restorethe ability for King County Metro to provide service to sporting events, had been overturned. All Seattle sports fans have a right to affordable and efficient transportation toand from sporting events, and this public transportation will support our local sports teams, bolster the local economy, and decrease traffic during sporting events.

“Ruling to allow Metro to offer service to sporting, community events”

– The Seattle Times

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Urging Republicans to Take Medicare Benefits Off the Table

I strongly urged myRepublican colleagues to take Medicare benefits off the table during the ongoing budget negotiations. The Republican plan would shortchange American seniors who rely onMedicare to meet their health care needs. We will not allow Republicans to balance the budget on the backs of our seniors. I’ve heard from seniors across the state, telling me thatthey need their benefits to be protected. These seniors simply cannot afford the Republican plan.

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Giving Children an Early Start on Education

I introduced the Readyto Learn Act, which would help prepare children for kindergarten by providing funding for states to establish and administer voluntary preschool programs. As a formerpreschool teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that high-quality early childhood education has on the success of our children. That’s why my bill will help families and communitiesacross the country provide their children with the strong educational start they deserve.

“Bremerton schools garnernational acclaim for early learning efforts”

– The Kitsap Sun

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Protecting America’sWorkers

Last week, I reintroduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act, which amends and updates the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to make sure thatworkers are protected in the 21 st century economy. I spoke on the Senate floor to urge my colleagues to support this critical legislation because every worker, inevery industry, deserves to be confident that while they are working hard and doing their jobs, their employers are doing everything they can to protect them. This effort to make our workplacessafer is especially important to communities like Anacortes, still shaken by the tragedy at the Tesoro Refinery that killed 7 workers.

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Bringing Technology to the Classroom

Earlier this month, I used internet videoconferencing to holdvirtual conversations with students across Washington state to discuss the role technology plays in their classrooms, and how it can be approved. I also told them a bit aboutthe ATTAIN Act, which would help schools like theirs get the resources and support to integrate technology into learning. Students are clearly excited about using technology to learn—andI’m excited about working to make sure schools can make that happen.