Press Releases
03/22/2017
Gov. Malloy Commemorates the Seventh Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Governor and Lt. Governor Urge Congressional Lawmakers to Reject Trumpcare, Warn that Millions Would Lose Health Coverage if it is Adopted
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy, noting that the number of people without health insurance in Connecticut is at the lowest point in history, today applauded the seventh anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Through the adoption of the law and the coverage it has extended through Access Heath CT, the state’s healthcare exchange, Connecticut is among the states with the lowest uninsured rates in the nation.
“Since its adoption, the number of uninsured people living in Connecticut has been cut in half from over eight percent to under four percent,” Governor Malloy said. “Because of the Affordable Care Act, half a million people in Connecticut have gained health coverage that they previously did not have access to, and in return, greater access to the care and advice they need to live healthy, productive lives. Our state has been a national leader in health and human services, especially the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and we want to continue to make gains that support public health care and economic security.
“While nearly all of us agree that we want to continue to make improvements that will reduce costs for consumers even lower while increasing access to care, we are at a turning point in our country where some are advocating to dismantle this law and roll back the progress we’ve made over the last seven years. We cannot go down a road – simply for political purposes – that will result in millions losing coverage, as nearly every study has shown Trumpcare will do. Let’s continue to make improvements to the current system and not risk the lives of millions who depend on it.”
Lt. Governor Wyman, Chair of the Board of Directors of Access Health CT, said, “Trumpcare isn’t a healthcare plan, it’s a tax reduction plan for wealthy people. It will raise costs for older adults and for working families, and it will shrink the number of healthy people in the insurance pool – that will also cause costs to go up for everyone. The Republicans have said time and again that they would expand access to healthcare and reduce costs. Instead, they have put forward a plan that does exactly the opposite. Trumpcare puts health insurance out of reach of more Americans.”
Last week, Governor Malloy released the results of an analysis of how Trumpcare would impact Connecticut if it were adopted, which shows that healthcare coverage for tens of thousands of state residents could be threatened, and as much as $1 billion in annual costs would be added to the state at full implementation after 2020.
Connecticut has been one of the leading states to successfully implement the Affordable Care Act, beginning with the nation’s first expansion of Medicaid to cover low-income adults without minor children in 2010. Today, the state’s health insurance exchange enrolls over 100,000 residents in private qualified health plans, and the Medicaid program enrolls over 750,000, including 217,000 in expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
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