Written by Kevin Hartel
The Affordable Care Act has protected patients for generations. Republicans want to roll back progress.
This year marks the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. While we may take for granted many of the ACA’s patient protections today, such as its prohibitions on discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions and price gouging against women, we We must remain vigilant against attacks on the ACA. Here in Michigan, we are actively working to ensure patients continue to have access to affordable health care.
As Chair of the Senate Health Policy Committee, I proudly worked with Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats in the state Legislature to pass legislation that included important provisions of the ACA into Michigan law. Our goal was to protect the health care of millions of Michiganders from attempts to roll back protections under the ACA. These critical measures include protecting access to fully covered preventive health services, including lifesaving colorectal, breast and other cancer screenings, heart screenings and vaccines. Michigan’s new state laws also include:
• Prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
• Require dependents under the age of 26 to purchase insurance.
• Require insurance companies to provide coverage for certain services, such as hospitalization, pregnancy, and emergency services.
• Prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage based on gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
• Prohibits the establishment of annual or lifetime monetary limits.
For generations, the ACA has helped more Michiganders receive quality, affordable health care. This landmark legislation has played a critical role in improving the health, saving lives, and providing hope for millions of Michiganders. During the most recent ACA Marketplace open enrollment period, more than 418,000 Michiganders enrolled in health insurance. This is his highest enrollment rate in state history, a 30% increase compared to 2023.
Despite these important gains in our efforts to help families continue to enjoy health care coverage, former President Trump and extremist Republicans continue to attack the ACA. Since reiterating his pledge to “end” the ACA in November 2023, President Trump has publicly threatened to take away Americans’ health care. at least 7 times.
These are not mischievous threats, and Michiganders should be on guard. During his first term, Trump weakened and weakened The introduction of the ACA made affordable insurance more difficult to obtain, raising costs for millions of people, reducing enrollment, and worsening protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Congressional Republicans aren’t giving up either. The latest Republican budget aims to water down Medicaid and the ACA. One hundred million Americans rely on their health care.republican schedule Insurance companies and drug companies will once again be responsible. The burden on patients will also increase. Insurance companies will once again deny health care to millions of people. From assistance programs for America’s seniors to programs for pregnant women, critical health programs are at risk of being cut.
Michiganders of all backgrounds – Republicans, Democrats, independents – should be on guard against these attacks, as they aim to take away basic health protections and hand the keys back to Big Pharma and the insurance industry. not. All Michiganders have the right to health care when they need it, not just when they can afford it. And above all, we must fight to ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege, for our state’s residents and all Americans.
Michigan State Senator Kevin Hertel represents Michigan’s 12th Senate District, parts of Clinton Township and all of Algonac, Chesterfield Township, Clay Township, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Grosse Pointe. Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods, Harper Woods and Harrison Township. , Islay Township, Mount Clemens, New York, Baltimore, St. Clair Shores.
