Kreidler responds to health reform repeal efforts

On the eve of the first vote to repeal health reform, Commissioner Kreidler joined Gov. Chris Gregoire in a letter to the Washington delegation, touting the progress made to date and their willingness to enhance the Affordable Care Act where it falls short. They called out several new consumer protections already benefiting our family, friends and neighbors:

• Children with significant health care needs cannot be turned away by insurance plans.
  
• Young adults can stay on their parents' health plan until age 26.
  
• No more cost sharing for preventive service, including cancer screenings and immunizations.
  
• People with pre-existing conditions who've been uninsured for at least six months can get health insurance through the new federally-funded Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan.
  
• Small businesses that offer their employees health insurance can qualify for tax credits.

In a news release issued by the Washington Public Interest Rearch Group yesterday, Kreidler said, “Putting politics aside, our current health insurance system is unsustainable. Washington families and businesses are hurting. They contact my office every day, calling for help, because they can’t find insurance or afford the coverage they have. The new reforms just starting to take effect will help, but we need the full reforms coming in 2014. Any effort to repeal health reform now is short-sighted and will only harm consumers.”

Both Kreidler and Gregoire admit in their letter to the delegation that the Affordable Care Act may not be perfect, but they make the argument that repealing it - and all of the work that has been done to date to implement the reforms - would be a giant step backwards for our state and nation.