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Dear friends,
I would like to take this time to update you on the several events I attended this week in Washington, D.C, but first I would like to invite you to visit my website cuellar.house.gov, where you can find additional information on booking Capitol tours for you, your family, and friends. I am always glad to meet student and community groups in my office.
Association of Government Accountants Annual Conference
On Monday, I addressed the need for better results from our government agencies and highlighted the Government Performance & Results Act (GPRA Modernization Act) with members of the Association of Government Accountants Annual Conference.
Cuellar addresses business professionals at AGA Conference
Speech Contest Winners
Congratulations to Emiliy Landa of Santa Elena, Texas, and Joel Leal of Mission, Texas! These two talented students won a speech contest sponsored by their local electric cooperative and earned an all-expense paid trip to our nation’s capital. Very impressive!
Cuellar meets with speech contest winners Emily and Joel in Washington
Community Service Award
I welcomed Ms. MaElena Montemayor, who has been working with the HIV-AIDS community for over 20 years at the Laredo HIV-AIDS Services Consortia. Ms. Montemayor received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in recognition for her outstanding community service.
Cuellar meets with Ms. Montemayor in his Washington, D.C. office
Close Up
On Wednesday, I met with Katie Sanchez and Gabriela Dominguez, two talented students who are participating of the Close Up Foundation program in Washington, D.C. We had a very candid discussion about how the federal government works and the importance of education.
Cuellar meets with Katie and Gabriela, two students from Laredo participating in the Close Up Foundation Program
An inspiration to all of us
Katie Doderer, an inspirational girl from San Antonio, Texas, came to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the Medically Dependent Children’s Program funded by the Texas Medicaid Program. I want to extend a big “thank you” to the San Antonio Children’s Hospital for keeping Katie healthy and active.
Congressman Cuellar meets with Katie Doderer and her family in Washington, D.C.
Update on Affordable Care Act: Seven reasons how the ACA benefits women
1. Bans insurance companies from dropping women when they get sick or become pregnant.
2. Improves the care for millions of older women with chronic conditions, by providing incentives under Medicare for coordinated care.
3. Ensures guaranteed free coverage over a range of preventive health services for 47 million women with private health insurance.
4. Provides that this free coverage, (which began last summer), now includes more comprehensive women’s preventive services, such as well-woman visits, breastfeeding support and supplies, and gestational diabetes screening.
5. Starting in 2014, ACA ensures women will no longer be treated as a “pre-existing condition,” since insurance companies will be banned from denying coverage for “pre-existing conditions.” Currently, many women are denied coverage or charged more for conditions, such as breast or cervical cancer, pregnancy, having had a C-section, or having been a victim of domestic violence.
6. Ends the common practice of “gender rating” (which charges women higher premiums than men for the same coverage) beginning in 2014. According to one study, women buying their insurance in the individual market today pay up to 48% more in premium costs than men.
7. Provides greater access to affordable health coverage for women, with the establishment of Health Insurance Marketplaces for the millions who do not have affordable health insurance through an employer, beginning in 2014. Currently, less than half of America’s women can obtain affordable insurance through a job.
*Information provided by the Office of Democratic Leader and healthcare.gov
Currently, less than half of America’s women can obtain affordable insurance through a job.
For more information visit www.healthcare.gov/law/information-for-you/women.html and remember to SAVE THE DATE for OCTOBER 1, 2013 when you can Enroll in the Marketplace.
Para más información en español visita http://marketplace.cms.gov/getofficialresources/spanish-materials/spanish-materials.html
Sincerely,
Congressman Henry Cuellar
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