WASHINGTON, D.C. – On October 1st, U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) hailed the new protections and benefits for consumers as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a video message, he encouraged Iowans to sign up for health coverage through the state’s new insurance marketplace.
As Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Harkin played a pivotal role in the passage of the ACA. He also serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
“The Affordable Care Act has already brought a host of health care benefits to Iowans. This law puts consumers in the drivers’ seat and ensures that premium dollars are spent on quality, comprehensive care,” Harkin said. “Starting today, despite the government shutdown, the health insurance marketplace in our state—and similar marketplaces across the country—will be open for business, allowing all Iowans to get access to affordable, comprehensive care. For the first time, individuals and small businesses will have the same purchasing power and choice that only big companies enjoyed before.
“I will be working in the coming weeks and months to ensure that everyone is aware of the new consumer protections and benefits available to them as a result of the ACA, and I encourage Iowans to shop and enroll in health coverage through our state’s new marketplace.”
Starting today, Iowans can log onto https://www.healthcare.gov/ or call 800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325 ) to learn about the state’s insurance marketplace and how to enroll. Coverage will begin January 1st, 2014. Last week, a new report from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) showed that Iowa’s soon-to-open health insurance marketplace, created as a result of the Affordable Care Act(ACA), will offer Iowans health insurance choice and affordability.
As a result of the ACA, Iowans:
• Can receive tax credits to help afford quality coverage if meeting eligibility criteria;
• Will not be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions;
• Will not be charged more because of health status or gender;
• Can receive preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs;
• Can join their parents’ plan if they are a young adult under age 26;
• Pay less for prescription drugs;
• Receive guaranteed access for all to preventive services;
• Will not face lifetime limits on coverage.
The ACA is already benefiting Iowa:
- More than 255,000 uninsured Iowans are eligible to enroll in the new health insurance marketplace;
- 92 percent of eligible uninsured Iowans may get tax credits or Medicaid;
- 20,000 more young adults in Iowa now have coverage through their parents’ plan;
- Iowans received more than $147,246 in rebates from insurers — an average of $111.00 per family;
- In Iowa, seniors on Medicare saved $76 million on prescription drugs because of the Affordable Care Act;
- Nearly 520,000 women in Iowa will now have guaranteed access to additional preventive services without cost-sharing;
- More than 1.1 million Iowans and protected from lifetime limits on coverage
- More than 350,000 Iowans on Medicare used one or more free preventive services in 2012.
I believe the reason the repubtards won’t find us a link is because they can’t find it. They just believe it because their rightwing web sites tell them it is true.
@John-Bahama Tom can’t hear you. He is out of the country again. He only comes back to take credit for spending someone else’s money.
I heard he canceled his trip to Asia if that’s what you mean. He has no public schedule for today and was at the WH yesterday. Did he go somewhere else I don’t know about?
Katie, LVS was talking about Harkin, not Obama. Harkin is what this article is about and he didn’t have a trip planed to Asia. (Bahama Tom)
How about this Tom, why don’t you sign up for it? Oh, that’s right, you voted to exempt yourself and your staff from your own damb law after the Grassley amendment was approved stating that congress had to live by the same rules and go on Obamacare.
John I keep hearing about this rumor of a vote taken. Can you provide some proof of it? I have looked and can’t find it.
My guess is this: if your employee provides insurance and you want to keep that insurance you can. That applies to you, me and Senators Harkin and Grassley. That is part of the ACA. So my understanding is that if Grassley wants to turn down his free insurance and buy from the marketplace he can.
one more thing. The ACA is not insurance. One of its provisions is a means of getting insurance.
DR Dunn, If you would pay attention to what is going on at the capitol building, you would be better informed. Grassley wrote an amendment to Obamacare before it was passed in the first place. That ammendment said that if congress wanted to force this on the American people, they would have to live by it as well. Just weeks ago, the Dem’s in the senate found out that it was just too expensive for them and thier staff, so they voted to remain on their government plan. (Clearly this bill is not good for the American people.)
As I said before, do your own researh, I don’t work for you and I am informed enough about what happens in our government when it happens, not looking up history. When you put me on your research payroll, I would be more than happy to do work for you and show you the bills.
It sounds to me like if I lead to right to the evidence and showed it to you in person, you wouldn’t believe it anyway.
I finally found something about this. His amendment wasn’t for the members of congress. It would only apply to SOME of their staff. And what it would do is allow the money that goes to currently paying for their insurance to be applied to buying insurance from the exchanges. It was rejected by not only democrats but also by republicans because it could have ended in an across the board pay cut for congressional staff. Stop believing what Fox News tells you.
if you can’t find it then you are NOT looking for it because it was all over the news for days. Are you happyguy because he could never find anything either and would ask everybody else to prove it.
Show us where it is maybe and tim. I am still looking and its seems like Mr. Dunn can’t find it either. Post it rather than degrade us.
@Anymouthy-just because you are to dumb to find it yourself you should not expect other people to tell you where it is. How typical of you liberals. Always wanting smarter people to do it for you.