Family Voices applauds the June 25th Supreme Court ruling that upholds a key provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — that premium tax credits are available to offset the cost of health insurance, regardless of whether a person signed up through the federal or a state exchange.
According to Enroll America, “more than 10 million Americans have coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, and 85% of them receive financial help to pay for their plan. The recent decision by the Supreme Court assures those consumers that the promise of affordable health coverage will still be there for them.” It was estimated that 6.4 million people, in 34 states, would have lost their premium subsidies had the Court ruled the other way.
Family Voices knows that to keep families at the center of children’s health care, there must first be accessible, affordable health care for all. The ACA makes this possible. The ACA also includes provisions for families to partner with providers and for family leaders who speak for the more than one in five families with at least one child with special health care needs to work to improve access and quality of health care.
In the most significant government expansion and regulatory overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) together with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (2010) have made groundbreaking strides in closing the chasm in health care quality for the 21st century. ACA improves quality for Children & Youth With Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) by:
• Covering More Kids: reducing the number of CYSHCN who do not have public or private insurance coverage,
• Closing Benefit Gaps: enhancing benefits for CYSHCN whose health insurance coverage is inadequate to meet their needs,
• Paying for Additional Services: increasing the options available to finance care coordination, respite care, home modifications and other wrap-around services for CYSHCN – critical supports that are not typically covered by insurance, and
• Building Capacity: promoting stronger, more comprehensive systems of care for CYSHCN.
Family Voices, Inc.
(505) 872-4774
www.familyvoices.org
