The Feminist Majority worked hard to help pass the Affordable Care Act which is an historic advance for women and one of the most important advance in nearly 40 years. The Affordable Care Act protects the lives and health of millions of women and their families each year and makes our nation stronger and healthier. Moreover, we worked hard to stop any and all attempts to repeal and replace it with the Republican cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. This is what women have gained and will gain from the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act:

Millions of Women Gain Access to Health Insurance

Some 32 million people (a majority of whom are women) will gain access to health care insurance coverage including 16 million people (also a majority women) who will gain access through Medicaid. About three-fourths of people who purchase through the insurance exchanges (those with incomes between 133% and 400% of poverty) will receive a federal subsidy to help pay for the coverage.

Bans Sex Discrimination in Health Insurance Pricing and Benefits

Health insurers are banned from “gender rating,” or charging women higher premiums (prices) than men for the same coverage, both for individual policies and for employer group plans with fewer than 100 employees. In most states, before the ACA women with individual plans paid on the average some 48% higher premiums than men for the same health insurance coverage.

No Co-Pays or Deductibles for Preventive Care including Birth Control

Every new insurance policy is required to include the basic preventive health care package without any co-pays or deductibles. As recommended by the Institutes of Medicine, this includes pap smears, mammograms, FDA birth control pills as well as IUDs, sexually transmitted infections or STI/STD testing, vaccines and immunizations including the vaccines for shingles, well woman checkups, immunizations and other preventive care.

Discrimination Based on Pre-Existing Conditions Eliminated

Exclusions for pre-existing conditions were immediately eliminated for children in 2010, and were eliminated in 2014 for adults. This prevents the exclusion of coverage for women who have “pre-existing conditions” such as pregnancy, prior injuries caused by domestic violence, a prior Caesarean delivery, a previous diagnosis of breast cancer, etc. Republican leadership in Congress has indicated they want to eliminate this provision. FM opposes such a proposal vigorously.

Bans Insurers from Dropping Coverage Because of Illness Mandatory Coverage of Maternity Care and Specific Health Services

Beginning January 1, 2014, individual and small employer plans must cover at a minimum a comprehensive package of “essential health benefits” including, for example, pre-natal and maternity care, prescription drug coverage, mental health care, and pediatric care (including oral and vision care). Before the ACA 87 percent of individual health insurance plans exclude maternity coverage.

Benefits for Older People

Medicare guaranteed benefits are not reduced.

Beginning in 2011, Medicare covers the full cost of preventive care, including cancer screenings, annual physical examinations and immunizations.

The Medicare prescription drug “Donut Hole” Because of the ACA is gradually being eliminated, starting with a $250 payment to beneficiaries in 2010 and a 50% discount on Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. By 2020, payments by beneficiaries will be reduced to 25% of drug costs in the gap.

Ban on Discrimination against Lower Paid Employees

Employers will not be allowed to provide inferior plans with less coverage to their lower-paid workers, who are more likely to be women and people of color.

Addresses National Nursing and Primary Care Physicians Shortage

The law increases the numbers of nursing education slots, providing loan repayments and retention grants and offering grants for employment and training of family nurse practitioners. It provides scholarships, loan programs and bonus payments to private care physicians and general surgeons. It also expands health accessibility by doubling the capacity of community health centers. New programs will increase support for school-based and nurse-managed health centers.

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