Health Care Blog

President Obama Explains How Health Reform Is Helping Women

President Barack Obama delivers a statement on the Affordable Care Act in the East Room of the White House, May 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, President Obama today spoke to a group of women – including many moms – about the ways the Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans like them.

"Women in particular now have more control over their own care than ever before," the President said. "And I’m pleased to be joined today by many women who wrote in to tell us what the Affordable Care Act means to them."

Carol was one of the women who wrote to the President, and today, she introduced him in the East Room. Carol's son, a 22-year-old college grad and traumatic brain injury survivor with a rare genetic lung disease, was able to stay on his family’s health insurance policy instead of being kicked off the plan this year. Finding coverage on his own would have been nearly impossible, as Carol wrote to the President: “Given his history, he would be virtually uninsurable under the old set of ‘rules.’  Instead of contemplating law school, all of his resources would have been channeled into somehow, somewhere, finding health insurance.”

Carol and her son are why the Affordable Care Act lets young people stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26, President Obama said.

Alycia was also standing behind the President today.

"Alycia is the mother of Avey, who is a beautiful, sweet, 3-year-old girl who also happens to have Leukemia," he explained. "Imagine what that’s like for a parent. While you’re just figuring out how to take care of a baby, you’ve got to figure out how you’re going to pay for expensive treatment that could save your baby’s life. 

A Big Sister’s Advice – Get Covered!

Ed. note: This is cross-posted from the HHS Blog

As originally posted on NBC Latino on April 30th by Mayra Alvarez

Alejandra was born when I was eleven years old. She’s sassy, smart, beautiful, but first and foremost, my baby sister. Our two older sisters and I have done our best to keep her safe and healthy. Today, Alejandra is attending Kaplan College in southern California, on her way to becoming a patient care technician and, someday, a nurse practitioner. As a soon-to-be health care professional, she has certain medical requirements for the school year; when she went to the doctor’s office, she sent me a text message that said, “I paid $300 by myself. For a checkup and some shots.” It’s Alejandra I think about when I consider the importance of the Marketplaces launching this October.

If you’re a young person like Alejandra, you might not be thinking a lot about health insurance—until the day you need it.  You’ve got other priorities. But what if you get into an accident, are diagnosed with a serious illness, or have certain medical requirements for school or work? Today, Alejandra knows firsthand the importance of health insurance, and what it means for her and other young adults across the country.

The Affordable Care Act is expanding affordable health insurance options for young adults in several ways. If you’re under 26, you can now be insured as a dependent on your parent’s plan, with a couple of exceptions — for instance, if you are eligible for your own job-based coverage. Also, new health plans must now cover many critical preventive services at no out-of-pocket cost. The $300 bill Alejandra paid for her checkup; That could’ve been free.

And there’s more. When the new Marketplaces open for enrollment in October for coverage beginning as soon as January 1st, 2014, individuals and small business owners will be able to compare their options for buying health insurance and find the quality plan that best fits their budget. The Marketplaces will be competitive, transparent, and simple to navigate—and while you’ll be able to shop for coverage over the phone or in person, if you’re like Alejandra, you’ll probably prefer to check out your new options online through the easy-to-use Marketplace website, healthcare.gov.

Of course, if Alejandra needs help navigating the application, she’ll have it. And if she needs help paying for coverage, she’ll have help with that too. If you make less than $45,000, and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get financial assistance to help pay for insurance. Another option, if you make less than $15,000, may be Medicaid, which will be expanding in many states beginning in 2014.

Alejandra, like so many other young adults across the country, is just trying to make something of herself. She’s doing her best to make ends meet in order to take that next step in life. Fortunately for my sister, she’ll have one more tool to ensure her long-term health and financial stability – affordable health coverage. Open enrollment in the health insurance marketplace begins on October 1, 2013, and it can’t come soon enough for Alejandra and millions of other young adults in need of health coverage.

I hope all of us who are big sisters, brothers, friends, or neighbors can help spread the word about this great opportunity. I know I will.

Mayra Alvarez is director of Public Health Policy in the Office of Health Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.