(Washington, DC) – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released a report compiled by the Energy and Commerce Committee analyzing the impact the Affordable Health Care for America Act will have on South Carolina and the 6th Congressional District. The report predicts that over 300,000 6th district residents will see improvement in their employer-based benefits, nearly 200,000 households will receive credits to help pay for coverage and around 100,000 uninsured residents will receive coverage.
“The Energy and Commerce committee report not only demonstrates the comprehensiveness of the Affordable Health Care for America Act but the urgency with which Congress must act to enact health care reform. To see how many of my neighbors in need of better health care benefit from this initiative renews my commitment to provide Americans with a better health care system.
“This legislation will provide relief to the district’s middle class residents and improve the coverage insured residents already receive. The roughly 50 percent of district residents who receive employer-based health coverage will no longer face rate increases or coverage restrictions due to pre-existing conditions and there will be no co-pays or deductibles for preventative care. What’s more, nearly 200,000 families will qualify for credits that reduce the cost of coverage.
“The district’s 114,000 Medicare beneficiaries’ will have their coverage improve with free preventive and wellness care, improved primary and coordinated care and nursing home quality and a strengthened Medicare Trust Fund. Furthermore, the 6,200 seniors in the district deprived coverage because they fall within the donut hole will receive immediate relief and the donut hole will be completely eliminated by 2019.
“Small businesses with up to 100 employees will be able to join the health insurance exchange, providing them with a greater choice of insurance options and reducing costs through competition. Over 15,000 district businesses will be able to join the exchange. Business with 25 employees or fewer will be eligible for tax credits that will reduce insurances costs up to 50 percent, benefiting nearly 15,000 district businesses.”