National Conference of Democratic Mayors

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Celebrates the Success of Health Care Reform



On February 25th, House and Senate leaders of both parties met with President Obama at the Blair House to discuss moving forward with comprehensive health reform. On March 18th,House Democrats unveiled legislation to improve the Senate-passed bill achieving our three key goals—affordability for the middle class, accessibility for all Americans, and accountability for the insurance industry. On March 21st, the House passed the Senate version of health insurance reform legislation by a vote of 219 to 212—sending it to the President for his signature into law on March 23rd.  The House also passed the Reconciliation bill to improve the Senate bill by a vote of 220 to 211 on the 21st—which the Senate passed on March 25th, with two small changes, and it returned to the House later that evening, passing by a vote of 220-207.  The President signed this bill into law on March 30th.

The final health insurance reform legislation (the Senate bill as improved by the Reconciliation Act) will ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care and significantly reduce long-term health care costs. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has determined that it will provide coverage to 32 million more people, or more than 94% percent of Americans, while lowering health care costs over the long term. This historic legislation will reduce the deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, with $1.2 trillion in additional deficit reduction in the following 10 years. What the legislation does for you:

Health insurance reform puts American families and small business owners—not the insurance companies—in control of their own health care.

Making health insurance affordable for middle class and small businesses—one of largest tax cuts for health care in history—reducing premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Giving millions of Americans access to affordable insurance choices just as big businesses have—through a new competitive health insurance market that keeps costs down.

Holding insurance companies accountable to keep premiums down and prevent denials of care and coverage, including for pre-existing conditions.

Improving Medicare benefits with lower prescription drug costs for those in the ‘donut hole,’ better chronic care, free preventive care, and nearly a decade more of solvency for Medicare.

Reducing the deficit by $143 billion over the next ten years, and by $1.2 trillion more over the following decade; reining in waste, fraud and abuse, paying for quality over quantity of care.

Failure to enact reform means continued double digit premium increases—some as high as 60%, arbitrary loss of coverage, and huge increases in the national deficit.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGISLATION

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