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“Without the Affordable Care Act, I simply could not have retired at 62.”

Read more stories at WhiteHouse.gov/Get-Covered.
Donald L., Palm Coast, FL

Health Care Blog

  • Historically Slow Growth in Health Spending Continued in 2013, and Data Show Underlying Slow Cost Growth Is Continuing

    Posted by Jason Furman, Matt Fiedler on December 3, 2014 at 6:06 PM EDT

    New data out today from the Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services confirmed that 2013 was another year of historically slow growth in health care spending and that 2011, 2012, and 2013 saw the slowest growth in real per capita health care spending on record. Today’s data make it increasingly clear that the recent slow growth in the cost of health care reflects more than just the 2007-2009 recession and its aftermath, but also structural changes in our health care system, including reforms made in the Affordable Care Act. As we have noted previously, if even a portion of the recent slowdown continues, the benefits for Federal and State budgets, families’ budgets, and the economy as a whole will be dramatic.

    The remainder of this blog post takes a closer look at today’s report and what it can tell us about the drivers of recent trends. We also take a look ahead at 2014 using other data that are already available. Available data suggest that aggregate spending may be growing more quickly as millions of people gain health insurance coverage and access needed care. But the available data also show that health care prices, premiums, and per-enrollee costs—the factors that determine the costs families face—have continued to grow very slowly during 2014.    

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  • A Page from the #GetCovered Cookbook: Two Recipes You'll Need This Holiday Season

    Posted by Lindsay Holst on November 26, 2014 at 4:05 PM EDT

    There's a good chance it'll take you less time to apply for health coverage than to make your Thanksgiving dinner. 

    Need health insurance? Visit HealthCare.gov right now, where you can shop for plans and get yourself signed up.

    Otherwise, be sure to share this delicious one-two recipe punch with everyone you know.

    Check out the full recipe after the jump.

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  • The Faces of Health Care: Ann C.

    Posted by Tanya Somanader on November 26, 2014 at 1:22 PM EDT

    "I was finally able to have a physical and a gynecological check-up, which included a mammogram. The mammogram showed an irregularity ... The cancer has been detected at a very early stage, which, with a 98% survival rate, has saved my life!"

    Ann, a 51-year old mother of three, is a licensed massage therapist from Westport, CT who is dedicated to healing others. As a self-employed single mother, she could not afford health insurance. But when the Health Care Marketplace opened for all Americans last year, she found out that she qualified for Medicaid in her state. That coverage finally gave her the opportunity to see a doctor -- and catch her breast cancer very early.

    She will have minor surgery to remove the irregularity and now has an almost 100% chance of survival. What's more, the cost of the screening and minor procedure will be far less than treating a more developed cancer down the line. 

    Thanks to HealthCare.gov, she got the care she needed when she needed it most. 

    Find out how you can get covered at HealthCare.gov. Already insured? Commit to get your friends and family the insurance they need here. 

    Read more stories about Americans whose lives are being made better by health reform.

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  • Thankful for Health Care: The Impact of the ACA Lives in Stories Like These

    Posted by Jesse Moore on November 26, 2014 at 12:36 PM EDT

    Over the past year, we’ve seen 10 million additional Americans gain health insurance, leading to a 26 percent drop in adults living without health coverage. This is progress which can’t be adequately quantified by the numbers, and as we approach the third week of our second Open Enrollment period this Thanksgiving weekend, we fully expect hundreds of thousands of families to use part of their time together to gather around their laptops, tablets and computers to make sure everyone has the health coverage they need to stay healthy in the new year.  

    Of the millions of Americans who are newly covered thanks to the ACA, many saw doctors for the first time in years, many caught or prevented conditions before they became life threatening, and millions more slept soundly with the peace of mind that they weren’t living just one accident or unexpected illness away from losing everything. Every day, the President hears from hundreds or thousands of these folks who write the President and share their story. As we kick off the holiday season here at the White House, we reached out to handful of these folks to let them know the President appreciated reading their letters, and to hear a little more about their stories in hopes that their experiences may compel others to also visit HealthCare.gov this holiday season. 

    Regina Moran had already battled cancer twice by the time she turned 25. A social worker in Philadelphia, she was paying nearly $700 per month for insurance and costly medications not covered under her plan. She was working multiple jobs and was forced to put vacations, graduate school, and even her wedding on hold to pay for health coverage for the medicine she needed. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, that has all changed.

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  • National Tribal Day of Action for Affordable Care Act Enrollment

    Posted by Liza Heyman on November 24, 2014 at 4:40 PM EDT

    Today is the National Tribal Day of Action for Affordable Care Act Enrollment!  Enrollment events are taking place across the nation and President Obama wants to ensure that every American Indian and Alaska Native has the information they need to take advantage of the health care options available under the health care law. 
     
    Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell spoke directly to tribal leaders and community members on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Secretary encouraged action from tribal leaders and community members, to get them, their friends, and their relatives enrolled!  Today’s National Tribal Day of Action on Affordable Care Act enrollment is a perfect opportunity for Indian Country to rally with community partners in health to get yourself, your friends, and your family enrolled.  Please join us in this effort to get covered with quality, reliable, and affordable health care insurance.
     
    Many Native Americans currently use an Indian Health Service (IHS) or a tribal health facility and that is not changing. But private health insurance offers new protections. Taking advantage of the new health insurance options provided by the Affordable Care Act can give American Indian and Alaska Native families the peace of mind of knowing they have comprehensive health insurance, even outside of the IHS system. 
     
    If you’re a member of a federally-recognized tribe and under a certain income level, you might even qualify to pay reduced or no costs for a private health care policy, including low or zero out-of-pocket costs. Also, you can check to see if your state has expanded Medicaid, as you might now qualify!
     
    Many American Indians and Alaska Natives who have signed up for health insurance coverage through the healthcare marketplace report that they were surprised at just how affordable it can be to get covered. Many are eligible for assistance to lower or even eliminate their monthly insurance premiums. And, if you’re a member of a federally recognized Tribe and you choose to buy a private health insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you may not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs like co-pays or deductibles. Many American Indian and Alaska Native families are also finding that they are now eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.  Overall, this can add up to more reliable and more comprehensive health care at little to no cost.
     
    The new health care law is another way the federal government is honoring its trust responsibility and obligations to Tribes. Ensuring that additional health care options are available for all Native Americans is simply another step in our ongoing efforts to promote well-being and economic prosperity in Indian Country. 
     
    But you need to act to ensure that you and your family fully benefit from the new health care law.  Every American Indian and Alaska Native should learn more about how the Affordable Care Act can benefit them as soon as possible. The best way to review your options is to go to HealthCare.gov/tribal.  You can also visit your local IHS or tribal clinic, or you can call 1-800-318-2596.  
     
    Raina Thiele is Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.

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  • Chart of the Week: SHOP Marketplace Premiums Flat in 2015

    Posted by Matt Fiedler, Matt Siegler on November 24, 2014 at 4:34 PM EDT

    On November 15, the Health Insurance Marketplace opened for the 2015 enrollment season, giving current Marketplace enrollees a chance to compare their options for 2015 and others the chance to think about purchasing affordable coverage through the Marketplace for the first time. Individuals can find a plan that meets their needs and their budget at HealthCare.gov.  

    But November 15 also saw the beginning of online shopping through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Historically, small businesses have paid as much as 18 percent more than their larger competitors for the same coverage, reflecting high broker fees, administrative costs, and other factors.  

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