Healthcare

The first report by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that Congressional Republican plans to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) would threaten the solvency of Medicare and increase health care costs for seniors.

"As a father to five daughters, I want every woman in America to have access to the best, most affordable health coverage possible. For too long, women have borne the brunt of health care costs in America," Congressman Garamendi said. "The Affordable Care Act is putting women and their doctors back in charge of their healthcare and reducing the ways insurance companies can gouge their customers."

"I was proud to vote for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, because as California’s first elected Insurance Commissioner, I know all too well that without a referee leveling the playing field, the insurance industry will always put its profits ahead of the people it is supposed to serve. We have a moral obligation to help people. Commonsense reforms in the Affordable Care Act, including those found in the Patient’s Bill of Rights, not only improve care for millions of Americans, but they also reduce costs in the overall health system, helping us responsibly reduce the deficit."

"We all deserve the freedom from want and the freedom from fear. While I hope to eventually see Medicare for All in America, the Affordable Care Act is a vast improvement over the dark days when we allowed the insurance companies to run roughshod over our health."

"Access to health care is a fundamental right that empowers us to live happy, healthy lives and strengthens our community," said Congressman Garamendi, who served as California's Insurance Commissioner for eight years. "Community clinics provide health services - ranging from prenatal care to chronic disease management and mental health care - that make this right a reality."

"Budgets are a reflection of lawmakers’ values and priorities. This budget does not reflect the values of most Americans. We need to create jobs and preserve vital health services, not take them away. We need to responsibly reduce the deficit, yet this budget manages to increase the deficit while harming the most vulnerable in our society. This radical assault on the health and livelihood of middle class and lower income Americans and seniors cannot stand."

Make no mistake, if this plan ever becomes law, it will mark Medicare's death by a thousand coupons. Seniors remaining with traditional Medicare will pay more as private insurers siphon off the healthiest and youngest among them. Seniors purchasing private insurance will also shoulder more of the cost of medical care as the value of their insurance coupon declines over time.

"Though its education and advocacy, LSI has been a leader in promoting cancer awareness, cancer screenings and early treatment; resulting in better health outcomes and increased hope for those afflicted."