A Letter From Senator Barbara Boxer (CA-D)

Dear Auntie:

Because you had written to me some time ago in support of health care reform, I wanted to follow up and share some good news with you about this important legislation.

I am very pleased that Congress has passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its accompanying Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.  These bills were signed into law by President Obama on March 23 and March 30, 2010 respectively. 

This is a historic achievement and a victory for our seniors, our children, our small businesses and for California.

When health care reform takes full effect, up to 7 million uninsured Californians will get access to affordable health care and 400,000 small businesses in our state will get large tax credits when they provide health care to their workers.  More than 4 million California seniors will get free preventive care, and they will also see lower costs for prescription drugs.

All Californians will benefit from consumer protections that will give them the security of knowing they will never be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition or be dropped from their health plan just because they or their family members get sick. 

The reconciliation bill makes a number of improvements and corrections to the original bill, including much greater funding for California's Medicaid program and better support for the doctors and hospitals that treat these patients. 

 

Ever since Teddy Roosevelt first set the goal of affordable health care for all Americans nearly a century ago, presidents and members of Congress of both parties have tried to ensure health care security for all of our families. Finally the moment has come when we will fulfill the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.

To find out more about what is contained in this legislation, please follow this link: http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf

Again, thank you for writing to me.  Please feel free to contact me again about this or other issues of concern to you.

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator