McEachin: Republicans need to stop dragging their feet

Virginia State Senator Donald McEachin

Senator McEachin's Statement on Affordable Healthcare Act decision  

Senator A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) today released this statement on the Supreme Court Affordable Healthcare Act decision. “Today, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Healthcare Act, thereby ensuring Americans’ deserved access to quality healthcare. This law means that Americans cannot be turned away when they are sick or injured because of income or a prior existing condition. In our perilous economy, this Act helps young people get access to health care by allowing them to stay on their parents’ insurance plans to age 26. Insurance companies no longer can arbitrarily cancel coverage or raise premiums. Importantly, for Americans’ health and well-being, preventive care, like mammograms will be free.  

“Contrary to the bombastic pronouncements of Attorney General Cuccinelli, the Affordable Healthcare Act is constitutional, deemed so in a decision written by a Republican Bush appointee. Now, I can only hope that the Attorney General and Governor McDonnell and their Republican colleagues in the General Assembly will stop dragging their feet, and get to work helping Virginians by creating the health exchange to assist uninsured Virginians in  receiving access to quality, affordable healthcare. That’s what the law requires and they need to stop their partisan diatribes, follow the law and serve the Commonwealth.”

Delegate Hope: "Supreme Court Decision is Historic Day"

Delegate Patrick Hope

From Delegate Patrick Hope (D - 47th District, Arlington County):

Supreme Court Decision is Historic Day for Over 30 Million Uninsured Americans Arlington – The United States Supreme Court today issued a historic decision sending shockwaves throughout our country that will affect every American. The decision involves a challenge by opponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which seeks to expand access, coverage, and improve the quality of care to nearly every American. 

Delegate Patrick A. Hope (D-Arlington) reacted, “This is a historic day for over 30 million uninsured Americans. Never again will the sickest and neediest consumers have to put up with lifetime caps on coverage, or will women have to pay more for health insurance than men, or will insurance companies be allowed to discriminate against anyone with a pre-existing condition.” Delegate Hope continued, “Thanks to Obamacare, the new norm will be allowing young people to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, free preventive benefits for seniors, and the opportunity for over 30 million uninsured Americans to access high quality, affordable health insurance.” 

Since the law went into effect, Virginians have felt the benefits of the Affordable Care Act: 

--1,498 Virginians have gained coverage through the pre-existing condition insurance plan;    

--66,000 young adults in Virginia have gained health insurance through their parent's plan;  

--2,974,000 Virginians no longer have a lifetime limit on their health insurance plan; 

--1,519,000 Virginians' private insurance has added coverage of preventive services without cost sharing;  

--837,645 Virginians with Medicare have received free preventive services; and 

--84,977 Virginians with Medicare saved money on prescription drugs. 

Delegate Patrick Hope concluded, “Now that the courts have finally ruled, it’s time Virginia got to work to fully implement the law. I call on Governor Bob McDonnell to bring the General Assembly back into session this year to make the provisions contained in the Affordable Care Act law in Virginia. Specifically, priority number one is to enact legislation giving Virginia the legal authority to implement health insurance exchanges so that small businesses and individual consumers can access high-quality, affordable health insurance. I can think of nothing better we can do to help prop up our economy than to make health insurance affordable for all Virginians.” 

Patrick A. Hope is a Member of the Virginia General Assembly as the Delegate from the 47th District representing part of Arlington County. He serves on the Militia, Police and Public Safety Committee and House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee.