WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Health care reform in less than seven minutes

We’ve already enjoyed big improvements to our health care system courtesy of the federal Affordable Care Act:

  • The ACA removed caps on lifetime benefits – protecting Washington families from losing everything when someone gets sick.
  • The law requires full coverage of birth control at no cost to women.
  • Young adults looking for work during these tough economic times are able to stay on thier parent’s plan until they find work or turn 26 – whichever comes first.

There’s more to look forward to in 2014:

  • No one will be denied health coverage when they are sick – ensuring that every Washingtonian gets access to the care they need.
  • All health plans will be required to cover essential benefits including maternity care, mental health treatment, prescriptions and pediatric care.

In addition to these common-sense consumer protection upgrades, House Democrats spearheaded the effort to extend health insurance to 300,000 low-income Washingtonians through the Medicaid Expansion.

We also led the way in establishing Washington Healthplanfinder – our state’s online marketplace for insurance. This one-stop shop will make it easier for consumers to truly compare health plans.

All these changes can get pretty confusing. If you’re more of a visual learner, the Kaiser Family Foundation has created this short video that breaks down health care reform.

Go ahead – take seven minutes and educate yourself on Obamacare!