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March 21st, 2012
Grijalva Highlights Local Affordable Care Act Benefits, Will Speak With AZ Alliance for Retired Americans at Friday Health Care Event

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today applauded the many benefits Southern Arizona has received since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act became law in 2010 and announced that he will speak at an event with the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans this Friday to discuss the law’s implementation going forward.

According to an analysis by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, since the Affordable Care Act became law:

–          An additional 9,600 young adults in the Seventh Congressional District now have health insurance.

–          5,300 seniors in the district received prescription drug discounts worth $2.9 million, an average discount of $530 per senior.

–          64,000 seniors in the district received Medicare preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles.

–          32,000 children and 120,000 adults now have health insurance that covers preventive services without paying any co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles.

–          440 small businesses in the district received tax credits to help maintain or expand health care coverage for their employees.

–          $17.1 million in public health grants have been given to community health centers, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers in the district to improve the community’s health.

–          Between 14,000 and 63,000 children with preexisting health conditions can no longer be denied coverage by health insurers.

Beyond the financial benefits, Rep. Grijalva pointed out that many important legal protections for American families and businesses are still on the way. “Today, women pay up to fifty percent more than men for the very same health coverage,” Grijalva said. “Even if a woman’s policy does not cover maternity care, she can still be charged more because of the potential for a pregnancy. Starting in 2014, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, gender rating will be prohibited. This is a common-sense solution to a discriminatory policy that hurts millions of American women, and it’s time opponents of the law explained why they’re against it.”

A comprehensive overview of health care reform’s benefits to Southern Arizona can be found at http://bit.ly/GEsYgp.

To highlight this and other important reforms, Grijalva will speak with the Arizona Alliance of Retired Americans at an event at Pima Community College West on Friday to highlight the need for continued implementation of the law and explain how individuals and businesses can continue to benefit in coming years. The event is open to the press.

If You Go

When:  12:30 p.m. on March 23

Where: Pima Community College West Campus at 2022 W. Anklam Rd. (outside the health center)

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