The Affordable Care Act Turns 2!

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is turning 2 this year! Last year, we had the best celebration yet, with 23 communities from across the country celebrating with their elected officials to say thank you for passing health care reform.

In the two years since the law went into effect, millions of individuals, including many Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, have already benefited from expanded access to affordable health insurance and improved protections for consumers. Young adults are now eligible to remain on their parent’s health plans until age 26 – a provision that has resulted in 97,000 Asian American young adults gaining coverage. In addition, children can no longer be denied insurance on the basis of a pre-existing condition and individuals with chronic diseases now have access to health insurance in the newly created Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans.

The ACA also makes a number of long term investments in our nation’s health system. By 2014, an additional 30 million individuals will have access to affordable health insurance through the one-stop shopping portals known as the Exchanges and expansion of the Medicaid program.