DES MOINES — This week, Steve King used the second anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to promote his own health care plan: stripping away the consistently improved health care enjoyed by thousands of Iowa families since the ACA was signed into law two years ago today.
“Steve King’s health care plan is driven by politics, not by what’s best for Iowa families,” said Matt Sinovic, Executive Director of Progress Iowa. “Families depend on consistency in their health care coverage, and the ability to plan for the future — this week King has been trying to scare Iowa families to death.”
On Friday, March 16, King co-authored a column calling for a repeal of the ACA[1]. On Wednesday, March 21, King reiterated his position[2]. And just yesterday, King released a statement opposing a partial repeal because it doesn’t go far enough[3].
“Iowa families should be scared to death of what Steve King is trying to do,” said Don Rowen, President of the Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans. “If King had his way, seniors would be spending more on prescription drugs, and our children and grandchildren could be left without health care. Our families have a right to know that from one day to the next, from one year to the next, we will receive consistent and quality care.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, which King is calling to be repealed, Iowa families have received the following benefits[4]:
- 42,015 Iowans on Medicare saved an average of $616 on prescription drugs, for a total savings of $25,876,475.
- 18,012 Iowans under the age of 26 gained coverage under the health care law.
- 388,676 people with Medicare in Iowa received free preventive services – such as mammograms and colonoscopies – or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor.
- 1,187,000 Iowans, including 433,000 women and 311,000 children, are free from worrying about lifetime limits on coverage.
- Insurance companies are required to spend 80% of premium dollars on health care instead of overhead.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010, two years ago today.
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[1] Washington Times, 3/16/2012: KING & DEMINT: End Obamacare, don’t mend it
[2] Huffington Post, 3/21/2012: Steve King: Health Care Loss At Supreme Court Could Aid Obama Reelection
[3] Official Press Statement, 3/22/2012: King: Partial Repeal Only Empowers ObamaCare
[4] HealthCare.Gov, 3/15/2012: Two Years Later: The Benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Iowa