One Year Later: Health Care Law Benefiting Hoosiers

March 23, 2011

one year later: health care law benefiting hoosiers

Congressman Carson marks anniversary of landmark legislation

INDIANAPOLIS – Congressman André Carson today marked the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, the law has already benefited Americans across the country by giving them freedom and control over their health care choices.

"When we passed the Affordable Care Act, we ensured families will no longer live in fear of lost coverage if they get sick," said Congressman Carson. "We provided parents peace of mind that their children with preexisting conditions will not be denied coverage. We strengthened small businesses with tax credits to help provide employee insurance."

In Indiana, more than 88,800 seniors who hit the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole" received $250 tax-free rebates and will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole this year. An estimated 19,100 young adults in Indiana could gain insurance coverage as a result of the provision that allows parents to keep their children up to age 26 on their insurance plans.

The law also bans insurance companies from imposing lifetime dollar limits on health benefits – freeing cancer patients and individuals suffering from other chronic diseases from having to worry about going without treatment because of these limits.

"A year ago, we gave control of medical decisions back to patients, giving more Hoosiers access to quality health care than at any time in our history," said Carson.

Resources for Indiana In the Affordable Care Act

Indiana has received $35.7 million to date from the Affordable Care Act. Grants to Indiana include:

• $1 million to plan for a Health Insurance Exchange
• $1 million to crack down on unreasonable insurance premium increases
• $16.4 million to support capital development in community health centers
• $2.5 million from the Prevention and Public Health Fund
• $10.3 million in Therapeutic Discovery Project Program Tax Credits and Grants
• $903,480 for Medicare improvements for patients and providers
• $1.6 million for Maternal, Infant and Childhood Home Visiting
• $2 million for Pregnancy Assistance Fund programs

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