Health Insurance Reform

June 29, 2010

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia: Madam Speaker, just months ago, the President signed the historic health care reform law, and thanks to the Affordable Health Care Act, Americans are already seeing benefits from the reform.

First, our seniors on Medicare part D have begun receiving $250 rebate checks when they fall into the doughnut hole so that they are receiving help when they most need it. Second, the new law requires that health care insurers offer dependent coverage to allow children, up to age 26, to remain on their parents' policies, and that plan has been implemented by most policies.

Just today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would begin accepting applications for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program to help early retirees get affordable coverage. Later this summer, Americans with preexisting conditions will be able to get insurance at affordable rates.

Now, we know that there are some who want to repeal all of these provisions and who want to take these benefits away from American families, but we remain dedicated to health care reform, which has expanded coverage to all Americans, and we are going to make sure that the law remains in effect.