LAKE COUNTY — Congressman Mike Thompson (D – St. Helena) released a statement Thursday on President Barack Obama”s announcement that insurance companies can continue offering insurance plans for another year even if the plans do not meet the Affordable Care Act”s (ACA) minimum standards.
“Today”s decision by President Obama to allow people who like their insurance plans to keep them, even if those plans don”t meet the minimum standards set by the Affordable Care Act, is a step in the right direction towards fixing issues with the health care law,” Thompson said. “This was a promise that was made and it is a promise that should be kept.
The action taken by President Obama directs insurance companies to notify consumers that their plans do not meet minimum standards. If people decide they would rather have a plan that meets the minimum standards, than they can shop online at Covered California.
“I”ve said from the beginning that the health care reform law isn”t perfect. But instead of engaging in partisan bickering and playing blame games, I want to work to make health care reform better.” Thompson said. “That”s why I will continue working to make sure people are able to get quality health insurance that fits their budget and their health care needs. If we quit the partisan games, we can build on the reforms made in Obamacare, work out the imperfections and make sure every American can get quality, affordable health insurance. That is a goal worth fighting for.”
The president”s announced policy will allow individuals who enrolled in plans after the ACA was signed into law on March 23, 2010 to keep their plans even if they do not meet the ACA”s minimum standards. Also under the president”s announced policy, insurance companies must notify consumers that their plans do not meet minimum standards.
People who enrolled in plans that do not meet the ACA”s minimum standards before the ACA was signed into law are not impacted by this updated. Their plans are grandfathered in and they can keep their plans until their insurance company decides to change or cancel their plans.
