Federal health care policies or programs

By Mike Thompson

I am proud to have voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which is helping make sure the people of our district can get health insurance. This landmark legislation is holding insurance companies more accountable, increasing competition and guaranteeing more health insurance options.

On October 1st, 2013 a major component of the law went into effect: the new, online health insurance marketplaces. In California, people can go online at http://www.coveredca.com, see what discounts they qualify for, compare plans, and pick one that's right for them, their budget, and their health care needs.

I have said from the beginning that the Affordable Care Act isn't perfect, and you have to look no further than the federal health exchange website that has been plagued by delays to see that is true. However, we should be spending our time working to build on and strengthen the reforms made in the law, not trying to undermine them at every turn.

To help solve the cancellation notices people have received, I supported legislation that would allow people who like their insurance to keep their insurance. This was a promise that was made when health care reform was passed and it is a promise that should be kept. The legislation I supported would also stop insurance companies from continuing to sell junk plans to new enrollees, ensuring insurance companies only sell plans that meet minimum standards.

I wrote legislation that would expand the eligibility for premium tax credits for people living in high-cost areas who purchase health insurance through the federal and state exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act. Currently the ACA allows those making between 138 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) to qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health insurance through the ACA's exchanges. At this level, an individual making up to $45,960 and a family of four making up to $94,200 qualify for premium tax credits. However, the income threshold used to determine eligibility for these tax credits doesn't take into account the cost of living for different geographic areas. A family living in New York City or the Bay Area is treated the same as a family living in a small town in South Carolina or Texas. The Fair Access to Health Care Act would allow the premium tax credits offered through the ACA to be increased proportionally based on an area's cost of living.

I passed legislation that repealed a portion of the ACA so that small businesses have the flexibility to provide more affordable plans for their employees, and that helps prevent unnecessary plan disruptions and premium hikes.

I voted to pass a bill that excludes the hours worked by volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders from being counted towards the ACA's 30-hour-a-week benchmark that determines whether an employee is classified as full-time.

I voted to pass a bill that would allow employers to exclude workers who receive health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs from its full time worker count. Under the ACA, companies with 50 or more full-time employees are considered large employers and are required to offer health coverage or potentially face penalties. This helps make sure small VA facilities do not face penalties.

I have also authored legislation to expand telehealth services. Telehealth saves money and helps save lives. By expanding telehealth services, we can make sure the best care and the best treatments are available to all Americans, no matter where they live.

Reforming health care has and always will be an ongoing process that will not be completed with the passage of any one bill. But by passing the Affordable Care Act into law, millions of Americans will now be able to get health insurance. And that's what matters.