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What Health Care Reform Means For You

Reforming our nation’s health care system is an urgent and vital step toward improving the health of our nation and fixing a broken system that is no longer sustainable.  It is about helping families struggling with the rising cost of care, cutting health care waste and abuse, and improving access to care in communities large and small.

It is also a very personal issue that deals with how your health care providers and insurance companies treat you. That’s why I believe that it is critically important that every American understands the challenges we face, the steps being taken in Washington D.C. to meet those challenges, and what it means for you.

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The Need – The Rising Cost of Health Care for Washington Families

Rising Costs = Higher Premiums
Health insurance premiums for Washington’s working families skyrocketed over the last eight years, increasing by 86.6 percent from 2000 to 2007 - Details

The Hidden Tax: The Uninsured Cost Us All
Because our current system leaves so many Americans uninsured, everyone is paying the price. In 2009, the average Washington state family paid $1300 ($700 for individuals) more in health care premiums because of the costs generated by having so many American uninsured. – Details

Health Care Costs Bankrupting Americans with Insurance
A brand new study published by the American Journal of Medicine found that 60% of personal bankruptcies are caused by illness and medical bills. – Details

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Steps to Address this Crisis – Taking Action in the Senate

The Affordable Health Choices Act – The Affordable Health Choices Act, which I helped to pass out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sets the foundation for meaningful health care reform in America. Passage of this bill is the first major component of health care reform to go through any Congressional committee.

Section by section summary | Bill text | Bill addendum

NOTE: Additional links and resources to Senate legislation will be posted here once they become available.

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What it Means for You – How Health Care Reform Will Impact Different Washington Residents

For All Washingtonians: Lowers Costs, improves choice, and ensures quality care.

For Seniors: Strengthens Medicare, fixes the Medicare Part D “Donut Hole”, protecting your access to care.

For Small Businesses: Ends the “Hidden Tax” driving high premiums, lowers administrative costs, levels the playing field with large companies that don’t provide their employees benefits.

For Early Retirees: Provides quality and affordable care, supports employer health plans that provide coverage for early retirees.

For Minorities: Improves preventative care, ensures access, fights health disparities.

For Women: Ends discrimination for gender or pre-existing conditions, improves preventative care for services like mammograms, supports maternity benefits 

For Young Adults: Provides health insurance security when switching jobs, puts a cap on out of pocket services, ensures increased access.