Press Releases
Dingell Highlights Importance of Affordable Care Act at University of Michigan
Dearborn, MI,
February 22, 2017
Tags:
Education
U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) joined residents, students, College Democrats and Progressives at the University of Michigan last night for a panel discussion on the Affordable Care Act and its impact on local communities. Since the ACA was enacted in 2010, the uninsured rate in Michigan has fallen by more than 50 percent, with 695,000 residents gaining coverage. As Congress debates changes to the law, Dingell is working to protect the critical gains that have been made in coverage and access to care. “The Affordable Care Act has provided a significant benefit to students, families and seniors in Michigan, and the stories we heard reinforce how important it is to protect the progress we’ve made,” said Dingell. “If the ACA is repealed it means an individual who has had cancer may once again be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It means a 22-year-old who is graduating college can no longer stay on their parent’s health plan while looking for a job. It means every American loses access to free preventative services like flu shots and cancer screenings. We cannot afford to go backwards, and I will continue to fight for the health care coverage our students and families rely upon.” “I believe that the Affordable Care Act is an essential element to a healthy campus population and healthy nation,” said Claire Fitzgerald, a senior at U-M. “The idea that some in our government want to further limit access to affordable health care and coverage, when it has done so much to change my life for the better, makes me want to work that much harder to secure health and well-being for all.” Laurie Burchett, manager of the Managed Care/Student Insurance Office at University Health Service, said, “Our office assists insured students with their health insurance questions and uninsured students with enrollment in health insurance coverage. At the onset of the ACA, we saw many students who were able to be added back on their parent’s employer health plan because they were under 26 years old. Since the ACA, we have held several outreach sessions to assist uninsured U-M students with enrollment in Expanded Michigan Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace. Our concern about the uncertain future of ACA is the possibility of students losing their insurance coverage or not being able to afford insurance coverage.” Studies have indicated that ACA repeal would result in 30 million individuals losing their coverage. Additionally, 73,000 young adults in Michigan who were able to stay on a parent’s health insurance plan thanks to the ACA now stand to lose coverage if Congress eliminates the requirement that insurers allow children to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26. “There is no doubt: the current republican proposals to replace major provisions of the Affordable Care Act will not make Americans better off, and those who stand to lose the most are the sick and low income,” said graduate student Michael Budros. Dingell, Fitzgerald, Burchett and Budros were also joined on the panel by Laura March, vice chair of the College Democrats at U-M; and Al Vanderklipp, executive board member of the Progressives at U-M. In Michigan: • 695,000 people have gained health coverage since the ACA was implemented. |