SACRAMENTO, Calif -- The following information was released by the California Endowment:
With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) just days away from its second anniversary, The California Endowment today celebrates its success insignificantly improving Californian's overall health and wellness and access to care.
Expanding prevention programs is a key element of the federal health care law, and since the law was signed in 2010, preventive care available through health coverage has increased for an additional 54 million Americans. Of those, more than six million Californians and 1.6 million (nearly 20 percent) are children. And as a result of the law, California has received more than $459.6 million to date.
'We know that health happens in our schools, in our neighborhoods and with prevention,' said Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment. 'A shift in how we approach health beyond health care is key to building stronger, healthier communities. We are encouraged to see that our government and policy leaders agree with us and are leading the nation in expanding care and investing in preventive health.'
The ACA has increased health, wellness and prevention for Californians in the following measurable ways:
$114 million to build new and expand existing community and school health centers in California.
$4.8 million in grants to help enroll California children in health coverage;
19.8 million California residents who are privately insured no longer have to worry about lifetime limits on their health coverage;
4.8 million Medicare beneficiaries in California can now receive certain preventive services - like mammograms and colonoscopies - as well as an annual wellness visit with their doctor at no cost.
$22 million in Community Transformation Grants to ten organizations to support community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.
Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage to the any California child with pre-existing medical conditions.
Over 450,000 California small businesses became eligible for a federal health care tax credit.
When fully implemented in 2014, some of the key benefits of the ACA include:
Residents who don't receive health insurance through an employer will be able to purchase it directly from the California Health Benefit Exchange, which will offer a variety of plans.
Small employers will have access to new health insurance offerings through the Small Business Health Options Programs, a part of the California Health Benefit Exchange.
Expanded access to Medi-Cal for Californians earning less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level including childless adults.
If you are interested in talking to Dr. Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment, or individuals and families that have directly benefited from the ACA, one-on-one interviews can be arranged.
