Every car you pass on Texas highways is required to have auto insurance so that in the event of an accident, you do not have to take responsibility for them.

That is one of the purposes of the Affordable Care Act: asking all Americans to take personal responsibility for their own health costs so that local taxpayers like you and I don’t get stuck with the bill.

The other purpose is to make affordable care available to all families.

The latest U.S. Census reports that in Texas, 6.1 million or 23 percent of the state’s population do not have health insurance. This includes 1.2 million children. That means one out of every four people in Texas live without health insurance. My congressional district specifically has one of the highest rates of uninsured Americans in the country. In August, the Center for American Progress published a list of 50 counties in the country that stood to benefit most from the Affordable Care Act. Three out of the top five counties were in my 28th congressional district, and four of out of five were in Texas. In Hidalgo County, 38.1 percent of the population is uninsured. In Webb County, the number is 36.8 percent and in Starr County, it is 35.8 percent.

Without insurance, getting sick could mean financial disaster for a family that racks up tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. It could mean ignoring opportunities for check ups that could catch a serious condition early. It could mean choosing between medicine, food and rent.  

Under the old system of health insurance, millions of Americans were denied access to quality, affordable health insurance because insurance companies controlled who could and couldn’t have health care. For millions of Americans who couldn’t afford health insurance, insurance companies blocked coverage or made it more expensive for people with pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition could include a disability, any type of chronic illness, or even being pregnant. In Texas, more than 10.6 million Texans have some form of pre-existing condition, including 1.6 million children.  

For a long time, the United States was the only country in the world where access to health care was a privilege, not a right. The Affordable Care Act is historic because, for the first time, all Americans will have access to health insurance that they can afford. 

On Tuesday, a major provision of the Affordable Care Act will begin to take effect and Americans will be able to buy affordable health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace. Customers can visit healthcare.gov to enter some basic information about themselves, browse their options and see clearly what each plan covers and costs. Nationally, consumers will have an average of 53 health plans to chose from and a family making $50,000 will be able to get health insurance for less than $100 a month, taking into account tax credits.   

Texas consumers will be able to choose from an average of 54 health plans in the Marketplace. The statewide average premium in Texas for the lowest-cost silver plan will be $287 and for the lowest cost bronze plan it will be $211. However, these premiums will be significantly lower across the 29th District of Texas. In the McAllen metro area, a 27-year old who makes $25,000 per year will pay $99 per month for the lowest cost plan, taking into account tax credits. For a family of four with an income of $50,000 per year, the lowest plan would cost only $117 per month, taking into account tax credits.

I’m not saying that the Affordable Care Act is perfect. Some provisions, such as stringent requirements for menu labeling that hurt small businesses, convenience stores, and grocers, should be tweaked. But it was passed by Congress and ruled constitutional by the highest court in the nation. And if there are parts of it that need to be changed, we should address those revisions by coming together and seeking a compromise.  

Ultimately, affordable healthcare coverage is about peace of mind. But, more so, it is about personal financial responsibility. It’s about being able to take care of yourself, your family and your future without the constant fear that getting sick could derail your financial well-being. 

Congressman Henry Cuellar represents the 28th congressional district, which includes Mission and Laredo.

http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/columnists/article_f4af1c7a-27d6-11e3-a328-0019bb30f31a.html