Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX28) announced a new analysis that demonstrates the comprehensive benefits taxpayers in the 28^th District of Texas are receiving from the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“Because of Affordable Care Act, millions of Texans have seen the benefits of lower costs and better coverage,” said Congressman Cuellar. “The area I represent along the US-Mexico border includes counties with some of the highest rate of uninsured Americans in the country.  I am committed to working in Washington to ensure that South Texans have access to affordable and quality healthcare.”

To date, more than 8 million Americans have signed up for private coverage through the Marketplaces, more than 3 million young adults gained coverage through their parents’ plans, and hundreds of millions of Americans with employer-based coverage and Medicare have improved benefits.  In addition, because of the law, Americans can never again be discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition, women can never be charged more for coverage because of their gender, and Americans will never be sold health insurance policies that disappear when they need coverage most

A new analysis prepared by the Minority staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee provides estimates of the benefits taxpayers in the 28^th District of Texas, the area I represent, have received:

·         Coverage for 16,700 previously uninsured individuals in my congressional district.  There are 16,700 individuals in my district who were previously uninsured but now have quality, affordable health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act. Overall, the number of uninsured district residents has declined by 8%.

·         Marketplace coverage for 27,800 individuals in my congressional district.  Under the health care law, enrollment in new Health Insurance Marketplaces opened in October 2013, with coverage beginning in January 2014.  Approximately 27,800 individuals in my congressional district have purchased quality, affordable coverage through the new Marketplaces. For 84 % of the individuals enrolled in the Health Insurance Marketplaces, financial assistance was available that substantially reduced the cost of the average plan to $72 per month.

·         Medicaid coverage for an additional 50,000 individuals in my congressional district.  The health care law includes provisions that give states the option to expand Medicaid.  As a result, an additional 50,000 individuals in my congressional district have enrolled in Medicaid since ACA enrollment began in October 2013.

·         Coverage for 9,400 additional young adults in my congressional district.  The health care law requires health insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until their 26^th birthday.  Because of this provision, 9,400 young adults in my congressional district have gained health care coverage.

·         Lower drug costs for 29,300 seniors in my congressional district.  The health care law is providing major savings in drug costs for seniors in the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole.’  Because of this provision, 29,300 seniors in my congressional district have received prescription drug discounts worth $3.7 million.

·         Free preventive services for 84,000 seniors in my congressional district.  Since 2011, the health care law provides free Medicare coverage of preventive services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.  Because of this provision, 84,000 seniors in my congressional district are now eligible for Medicare preventive services without any co-pays, coinsurance or deductible. 

·         Free preventive services for 169,000 individuals in private plans in my congressional district.  Since September 2010, the health care law also provides, for those enrolled in most private plans, free coverage of preventive services.  As a result, 169,000 individuals in private plans – including 39,000 children and 67,000 women – now have health insurance that covers preventive services without any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductible.

·         Savings in premiums for 128,000 individuals in my congressional district. 128,000 individuals in the district have saved on their premiums due to ACA provisions that prevent insurers from spending more than 20% of their premiums on profits and administrative overhead.  Because of these protections, over 29,300 consumers in the district received approximately $4.4 million in insurance company rebates in August 2013.

·         Protection for up to 54,000 children with pre-existing conditions in my congressional district.  Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from denying coverage to children for having a pre-existing health condition.  Because of this provision, up to 54,000 children with pre-existing conditions in my congressional district are being protected from denial of coverage.    

·         Elimination of lifetime and annual limits on coverage for 128,000 individuals in my congressional district.  Since September 2010, the health care law has prohibited insurers from placing a lifetime limit on coverage, and since January 2014, the law has also prohibited an annual limit. As a result, in my congressional district, 128,000 individuals no longer have either a lifetime or an annual limit imposed on their coverage.