for the health of your child. A year ago, Julie and Brooks felt this
way. They could not get health care coverage for their two young
children. They were denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition;
they have diabetes.
I share their story because today, thanks to the new health care law,
their children, and many children like them with serious conditions,
will have health insurance.
Susan, a constituent from La Jolla, had breast cancer and had to have
a mastectomy. Her insurance company refused to authorize follow-up
restorative surgery. She was demoralized by the treatment she received
from her insurance company, on top of the physical and mental strain
from her condition. She came to my office for help. After intervention
by my staff and the California Department of Managed Care, her
insurance company complied with existing law and what was clearly its
responsibility.
I share Susan's story because many people believe that if they have
insurance they don't need laws to protect their consumer rights.
Wrong! Hers is an example of the need to keep a watchful eye on the
insurance industry for its compliance with the law.
Both insured and uninsured alike need consumer protections, and the
new law finally makes those protections a reality.
Already in 2010, that reality has meant there are no longer
pre-existing coverage denials for children, no canceling policies when
a loved one gets sick, no lifetime limits on benefits, and young
adults can stay on their parents' coverage until age 26.
Also critical to remember is why we went down this road in the first
place: because of escalating costs to premiums and prepays that priced
people and small businesses out of the market.
Having the new law on the books makes the industry look at how our
health system delivers care and focus on controlling overall costs
through preventive and curative care. Doctors and nurses have told me
the new law provides incentives to deliver care in ways that are more
cost efficient, increases protections against medical errors and
empowers patients and families to have more control over their health
decisions.
However, as Republicans prepare to take control of the House in
January, they have promised to repeal the new law. Speaker-designate
John Boehner has vowed that the new Republican majority "will move
quickly enough" on a vote to repeal.
In addition to taking away consumer protections and health coverage
for Americans, repeal would also hurt the economy with significant
financial consequences – including in San Diego.
Local companies are benefiting from the Therapeutic Discovery Tax
Credit included in the new law, receiving tax credits and grants to
research new lifesaving drugs. This helps patients and supports jobs.
Even health industry insiders are wary about repeal. Richard
Umbdenstock, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association,
was quoted on NPR, "No one has said what this bill would be replaced
with. But doing away with this would certainly be the wrong thing."
Repealing parts of the law or cutting funding would be like pulling at
a string on a sweater. It will unravel, causing millions of American
to lose their newly acquired access to health care, weaken or end new
consumer protections and create economic uncertainty in our region.
The incoming House majority needs to ask itself whether the American
people want a prolonged fight to repeal or do they want legislators to
work together to make the new law work best for our country. For the
sake of my constituents, I hope it is the latter.
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