MEDIA MEMO for Thursday, October 18, 2012

BACKGROUND QUOTES / WOMEN, HEALTH CARE

For Local Woman, ObamaCare Making a Positive Difference

Small business owner looking forward to full implementation of health law

CONCORD, NH – During the Presidential Debate this week, President Obama made it clear that standing up for women is one of his top priorities. Meanwhile, Governor Romney told the country that he had “binders full of women.”

Fortunately for women, ObamaCare does much more for them than a list in a binder.

For Laura Miller, of Concord, NH, the differences between Obama and Romney on women’s issues are life-changing.  Laura is a small business owner who employs a staff of five hard-working women.  She also pays a fortune for health insurance because she has a pre-existing condition that forces her into a high risk pool.  Even though she only made $30,000 last year, her current health insurance policy costs thousands per month and carries a $7500 dollar deductible.

“2014 can’t come fast enough,” says Miller.  “I live every day fearing that one health setback could ruin me financially.  The Affordable Care Act will protect me from financial ruin.  For me the choice couldn’t be more clear in November.  President Obama’s plans have my best interest in mind.  Mitt Romney is threatening to do away with the very law that will protect me.”

“I’m not looking for a free ride; I’m willing to pay my fair share for health care.  But my finances and my business are under a constant threat from the possibility of one health care setback.  Mitt Romney doesn’t understand that.  Or perhaps he doesn’t care.”

Thanks to ObamaCare, starting in 2014, job-based and new individual plans won’t be able to exclude Granite Staters like Miller from coverage or charge them a higher premium for a pre-existing condition, including a disability. [Healthcare.gov, What the Health Law Means for Individuals, 2/18/11]

Thanks to ObamaCare, in 2014, small businesses with generally fewer than 100 employees can shop in an Affordable Insurance Exchange, which will give them power similar to what large businesses have to get better choices and lower prices. An Exchange is a new marketplace where individuals and small businesses can compare and purchase affordable health benefit plans. [Healthcare.gov, What the Health Law Means for Small Businesses, 2/18/11]

Thanks to ObamaCare, insurance companies will no longer be able to charge women up to 150 times more than men. The Affordable Care Act ends unconscionable insurance company practices against women. That means insurers will no longer be able to use Caesarean sections or domestic violence as pre-existing conditions to deny women health care, and will no longer be able to drop women’s coverage if they get sick. [Healthcare.gov, What the Health Law Means for Women, 2/18/11; McClatchy, 10/4/09] Millions of women would lose this protection if the law were repealed or rolled back.

Thanks to ObamaCare, women will no longer have to worry about lifetime limits on that healthcare; the Affordable Care Act bans insurance companies from being able to put lifetime caps on health care. It also restricts annual limits and will ban them entirely in 2014. This means women will be able to get the care they need when they need it most. Millions of women across the country would be left to the whim of insurance companies if the law were repealed or rolled back. [Healthcare.gov, What the Health Law Means for Women, 2/18/11]

Reporters: For more health care facts or to interview Granite Staters looking forward to the full implementation of the health law, contact Zandra Rice Hawkins at (603) 225-2471 or zandra@granitestateprogress.org.

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NH Citizens Alliance for Action is a progressive multi-issue advocacy organization focused on social, economic, and political justice for all. We focus our work on affordable and accessible health care and coverage, economic security, and protecting voter rights.

Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems.