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This week’s Supreme Court decision affirming the constitutionality of Affordable Care Act (also called “Obama-Cares”) was a victory for all of America, especially women who must pay more for their health care than men under the prior system.

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted, being a woman is no longer a pre-existing condition requiring higher premiums.  In addition, young adults now have access to health care until they’re 26, insurers cannot discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions, small business owners receive tax credits for offering their employees health insurance, seniors receive discounts on brand-name pharmaceuticals, and more. Thus far, Texans have already received the following benefits from the ACA:

• 300,731 young adults have gained access to health care coverage through their parents’ plan
• 4,029 individuals with pre-existing conditions now have health care coverage
• $166,975,840 in excessive premiums will be returned to consumers in Texas with an average of $187 per family
• 3,836,000 received preventive services using their private insurance plans that did not require a co-payment at time of services
• 55,280 seniors saved an average of $1,384 on prescription drugs using their Medicare plans
• 1,012,180 seniors received preventive services via Medicare without needing to provide a co-payment at time of services

When the full ACA is in place in 2014, health care in this country will be vastly improved. Texans on the whole will receive far more benefits and savings, including the inability of insurers to discriminate against any individuals on the basis of pre-existing conditions.

The ACA will also result in more funding for medical research, and is ultimately a job creator. I am very pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision, and once in Congress, I will work to ensure that the Affordable Care Act is not repealed.

OIL PATCH DEMOCRATS AND HCDP HOST CHEASTY ANDERSON ON AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: JULY 26