Calif. Consumer Coalition Examines Reaction To Federal Health Care Mandate

March 23--Days before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act goes to the U.S. Supreme Court, health advocates say hundreds of thousands of Californians have seen direct benefits from the law in the past two years.

Others say they haven't seen benefits and are still not sure about the law and its implications.

"Over 350,000 young adults are on their parents' insurance," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, a statewide health care consumer coalition.

That's just one group of individuals that has seen gains from the law, which marks its second anniversary today. There are about 8,600 people with pre-existing conditions that now have coverage, Wright said.

Additionally, about 370,000 people with low incomes now have coverage under programs that 47 counties throughout the state have established as part of the law, he said. "They are just part of the 2 million who will get coverage in 2014," he said.

Those benefits are reflected in a two-year status report the organization released this week.

Other benefits highlighted in the report include the more than 6.1 million people in the state who had their coverage improved to include coverage of preventive care without cost-sharing; more than 12 million people no longer have a lifetime limit.

In addition, more than 319,000 seniors are getting significant help with their prescription drug coverage totaling $170 million in prescription drug cost savings, according to the report.

Merced resident Amanda Mashburn said she hasn't seen any benefits from the law personally. She's also still not sure whether the individual mandate in the law should be constitutional or unconstitutional.

The mandate requires every individual to buy health insurance beginning in 2014 or face a penalty.

"It's awesome that the government wants everybody to have coverage, but there's some who can't afford it," Mashburn, 21, who attends UC Merced, said.

Also, after two years, more education is needed for people to fully understand the complex law, Mashburn said. "For better awareness," she said.

Ashley Puente, a UC Merced freshman, said she stopped receiving health coverage under her parents' insurance when she turned 18, and she wasn't aware that she's now able to stay under her parents' insurance until she turns 26.

The 18-year-old buys health insurance through UC Merced but wouldn't mind getting coverage under her parents again.

"I think I would consider going back," she said. "I would benefit from it."

Even though hundreds of thousands have taken advantage of the law, the bigger improvements won't kick in until 2014, Wright said.

One of those major improvements is the Health Benefit Exchange, which California has established and is scheduled to launch in 2014. The exchange is a provision in the law that's designed to allow individuals and small businesses to get better bargaining for insurance deals.

Some people who don't qualify for Medi-Cal or don't have health insurance through their employers will be eligible to receive tax credits to help them get affordable coverage in the exchange.

California has come far in implementing the law, but there's still a lot more work to do, Wright said.

Meanwhile, health advocates and legal experts hope the law will be upheld by the Supreme Court.

"I think the challenge has always been political rather than legal," Wright said.

Reporter Yesenia Amaro can be reached at (209) 385-2482, or yamaro@mercedsunstar.com.

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