A More Secure Future

What the New Health Law Means for You and Your Family

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Health Care Blog

  • Natoma Canfield's Letter to President Obama

    Posted by Kori Schulman on June 28, 2012 at 2:18 PM EST

    In his remarks on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, President Obama spoke about a letter from a woman named Natoma Canfield. The letter, sent to the President during the health care debate, still hangs in his office as a reminder of what the Affordable Care Act means for Americans around the country.

    Today, the President told Natoma's story and explained why he carried it with him every day of the fight to pass this law:

    For years and years, Natoma did everything right.  She bought health insurance.  She paid her premiums on time.  But 18 years ago, Natoma was diagnosed with cancer.  And even though she’d been cancer-free for more than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates, year after year.  And despite her desire to keep her coverage -- despite her fears that she would get sick again -- she had to surrender her health insurance, and was forced to hang her fortunes on chance.
     
    I carried Natoma’s story with me every day of the fight to pass this law.  It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well.
     
    Natoma is well today.  And because of this law, there are other Americans -- other sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- who will not have to hang their fortunes on chance.  These are the Americans for whom we passed this law.

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  • White House Office Hours: The Affordable Care Act

    Posted by Erin Lindsay on June 28, 2012 at 1:29 PM EST

    Note: This live session of Office Hours has concluded. View the full question and answer session below or at Storify.com

    Today, the Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensuring that hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protecting every American from the worst insurance company abuses.

    The fact of the matter is the Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans just like you, by ensuring that insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men, that no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, and allowing for 6.6 million young adults to stay on their family’s plan until they’re 26.

    These are just a few of the ways the Affordable Care Act means a more secure future for millions of Americans. For a comprehensive overview of the Affordable Care Act, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov.

    Have questions about what the Affordable Care Act means for you and your family?  Today, Thursday, June 28th at 4:30 p.m. EDT, we're holding a special session of White House Office Hours on Twitter with Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy who will answer your questions.

    Here's how it work:

    • Ask your questions now and during the live event on Twitter with the hashtag #WHChat
    • Follow the Q&A live through the @WHLive Twitter account
    • If you miss the live session, the full session will be posted on WhiteHouse.gov and Storify.com/Whitehouse

    To learn more about what the Affordable Care Act means for you visit Whitehouse.gov/HealthReform, then join us for Office Hours today at 4:30 p.m. EDT with Jeanne Lambrew.

    Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse for the latest updates and more opportunities to engage.

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  • Supreme Court Upholds President Obama's Health Care Reform

    Posted by Nancy-Ann DeParle on June 28, 2012 at 12:23 PM EST

    Watch the President speak on Health Reform:

    Questions about what the decision means for you? Check out an infographic showing how the Affordable Care Act benefits Americans 

    Today, the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. The Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law.

    For a comprehensive overview of the Affordable Care Act, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov. 

    Let’s take a look at what today’s ruling means for the middle class:

    A major impact of the Court's decision is the 129 million people with pre-existing conditions and millions of middle class families who will have the security of affordable health coverage. 

    We should also remember that under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

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  • See How the Health Care Law Is Helping People in Your State

    Posted by Jeanne Lambrew on June 27, 2012 at 10:55 AM EST

    President Obama signed the health care law – the Affordable Care Act – into law on March 23, 2010 and it’s already making a positive difference in the lives of millions of Americans. We are already holding insurance companies accountable and ensuring middle class families have secure, affordable health insurance.

    Thanks to the health care law: 

    • Preventive care --including mammograms for women and wellness visits – are available at no charge for everyone on Medicare.
    • 54 million Americans gained better preventive service coverage through their private health insurance plans. 
    • By August 1, 12.8 million Americans will benefit from rebates provided by their insurance company because the company spent too much of their premium dollars on administrative costs or CEO bonuses. 
    • 6.6. million young adults were able to sign up for coverage on their parents’ plans, including 3.1 million young adults who would have been uninsured without the law. 
    • 5.3 million people with Medicare who hit the prescription drug donut hole saved $3.7 billion on their prescription drugs. 
    • Insurance companies can’t drop your coverage because you got sick and made a mistake on your application.  Nearly 16 million Americans who purchase insurance in the individual market are no longer at risk of losing their insurance. 
    • Insurance companies can no longer limit the amount of coverage you can receive in a lifetime.  Nearly 105 million privately insured American can now live with the security of knowing that their coverage will be there when they need it the most. 

    These are just some of the ways the law is already making a positive difference for the American people. And now, you can see the latest data about how the law is helping your state by visiting HealthCare.gov/center. There, you’ll find a map with links to state-by-state data and facts about how the law is improving our health care system.

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  • CarolCare and JustinCare: Extending Coverage on a Parent’s Health Plan

    Posted by Dori Salcido on June 22, 2012 at 1:32 PM EST

    Ed. Note: This was originally published on Healthcare.gov

    Carol Metcalf’s son, Justin, has a rare genetic lung disease, primary ciliary dyskinesia, but while he needs medical care for it, he hasn’t let the disease define him. He’s thinking about going to law school, or possibly graduate school in international studies. Justin, 23, is able to do so because of the health care law, Carol says.

    Because of the Affordable Care Act, young adults like Justin can remain on their parents’ health insurance plan until their 26th birthday, even if they move away from home or graduate from school. More than 3 million young adults have gained health insurance because of the health care law.

    That has made a tremendous difference in their lives and for their parents’ peace of mind.

    “As Justin’s Mom, you know every mom wants the best for her child and you want them to have a fair shot … a good shot at life and to be able to make their own way and to be able to pursue their dreams,” Carol says. “The Affordable Care Act gives people like Justin that opportunity.”

    Watch Carol and Justin's story here:

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  • Celebrating Olmstead and our Commitment to Community Living

    Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on June 22, 2012 at 12:46 PM EST

    As I travel the country and visit people in their homes, schools, workplaces and health centers, I am reminded just how much our lives are shaped by the places we occupy.  Oftentimes, our opportunities are defined by the homes and communities in which we live. 

    Thirteen years ago, on June 22, 1999, people with disabilities moved closer to choosing where they live when the Supreme Court handed down the Olmstead v LC decision. This ruling established that people with disabilities have the right to live in the community with the proper services and supports, rather than being unnecessarily institutionalized.   

    Building on the President’s Year of Community Living, this spring the Obama Administration created the Administration for Community Living (ACL) at the Department of Health and Human Services, bringing together its experts charged with developing policies and improving supports for seniors as well as people with disabilities. Among other activities, ACL promotes the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act: to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities. 

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