WASHINGTON - Two years since the enactment of the landmark health reform law, millions of young Americans have gained health insurance coverage and maintained their insurance because of the law. The Republican repeal plan would turn back the clock, allowing private insurers to deny coverage to young adults and children with pre-existing conditions and returning to a system where young adults are dropped from their parents’ health insurance plan on their 18th birthday or when they graduate from college. Statements from Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark (D-CA) are below:
Health Reform by the Numbers:
2.5 million more young adults age 19-25 now have health care coverage thanks to a provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan up to age 26 according to the CDC.
Because of the Affordable Care Act:
• Insurance companies are banned from dropping young adults when they get sick or have an accident.
• Young adults in new plans receive free coverage of key preventive services.
• Insurers are prohibited from denying coverage to children under age 19 for having a “pre-existing condition."
Today, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander M. Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark (D-CA) criticized the Republican efforts to cut off health care coverage for millions of young adults and children:
Ranking Member Levin: “Millions more young adults and children today receive improved and increased health care coverage because of health reform. The Affordable Care Act has helped young adults and children get the health insurance they need and gives parents the peace of mind that their children will remain covered should they get sick."
Ranking Member Stark: "Young adults, previously the most uninsured group in America, can now obtain coverage on a parent's plan, thanks to health reform. This has helped nearly 3 million young adults who didn't have coverage -- particularly common in these tough economic times. Republicans want to send young Americans back to the ranks of the uninsured. Democrats won't stand for it."
