Extending Health Care Coverage to More Americans

I just read a nice, brief history of Democrats’ decades-long, determined work to bring more and more Americans under the umbrella of health care protection.  Last week’s Census Bureau reports showed that the improvements continue.  Let’s extend that progress by electing a next president who is “committed to preserving and protecting the Affordable Care Act and the peace of mind it has brought to millions of Americans,” and who pledges to “build on the progress we’ve made. I’ll do more to bring down health care costs for families, ease burdens on small businesses, and make sure consumers have the choices they deserve.”

Thanks to my colleague Bryan Alaspa for pointing me to the piece:

BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 7: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a primary night rally, June 7, 2016.  (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

“Democrats have been fighting to secure universal health care for the American people for generations, and we are proud to be the party that passed Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.”

-Democratic Party Platform

In March 2010, President Obama fulfilled a promise that Democrats have pursued for nearly a century: making quality, affordable health care available to all Americans. In all, seven presidents pushed for health reform over the years. Today, we finally are able to make real the principle that every American should have access to quality health care, and no one should go bankrupt just because they get sick.

For decades Democrats have fought for the simple idea that everyone should have some basic security in health care. When President Johnson signed Medicare into law in 1965, we were finally able to provide that security to America’s seniors. In 1997, Hillary Clinton helped pass the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which currently covers 8 million kids.

But it took nearly a century to extend that basic measure of security to all Americans.

In 2010, despite unanimous opposition from Republicans, Democrats were finally able to pass comprehensive health reform into law.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 20 million Americans gained health care coverage and the uninsured rate has been reduced by more than a third. Among the newly insured are 2.3 million young adults who are covered because the Affordable Care Act allows them to stay on their parent’s insurance until age 26. Discrimination based on pre-existing conditions is now illegal, and nearly 8 in 10 Americans who recently shopped for health insurance in the marketplace could get it for less than $100 per month.

The Affordable Care Act has also allowed states to expand Medicaid to help even more Americans get covered. Twenty-eight states have expanded Medicaid, and Medicaid and SCHIP enrollment has risen 26 percent.

The Affordable Care Act also provides tax credits to small businesses to help offset the costs of employee coverage and tax credits to help families pay for insurance. We are also experiencing health care spending growth at its lowest level in 50 years.

Hillary Clinton is committed to preserving and protecting the Affordable Care Act and the peace of mind it has brought to millions of Americans. She will use her decades of experience with health care policy to support Americans struggling with addiction, to guarantee paid family and medical leave, and to expand opportunities for Americans with disabilities.

Democrats are proud of this progress we have already made and are fighting every day to extend and preserve it for generations to come.

Yet another reason I’m so proud to be a Democrat.