Sen. Chris Murphy comes to New Haven to talk up Obamacare

March 01--NEW HAVEN -- Democratic lawmakers hit the road Friday with a message for their constituents: the Affordable Care Act is working.

A group of 20 U.S. senators offered a counter narrative to the Republican Party's criticisms of President Barack Obama's signature legislation.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., met with members of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans at the Dixwell Senior Center on Friday in the first of a series of meetings with constituent groups over the next few weeks.

"This is an effort of about 20 United States senators to really go on offense to explain to the American people all of the ways the Affordable Care Act is working," Murphy said.

Murphy talked with seniors this week, but will meet with other constituent groups affected by the law in the next few weeks including, cancer patients, women and young adults.

Murphy joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in the campaign to change the tone of the conversation around the Affordable Care Act.

"It's no secret that in the opening days of enrollment last fall there were some hiccups, but that has created the mis-impression that the Affordable CareAct isn't working when exactly the opposite is true," Murphy said.

The bill has extended Medicare benefits to 25 million senior citizens, including 75,000 Connecticut residents, Murphy said, citing data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

The message was welcomed by the members of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans, many of whom depend on the benefits of the ACA.

"I am seeing older folks saying their prescriptions are cheaper," Elizabeth Marafino, president of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans.

The Affordable Care Act lowered the amount the federal government paid drug companies for medicines taken by seniors. But the benefits, according to supporters, extend beyond the elderly.

"Because seniors have Medicare, we have had government sponsored healthcare for some time," said Bill Morico, 70, of New Haven, a member of the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans.

"Still I have seen benefits for those beyond seniors and for those in private insurance pool," said Morico, who spent 40 years working in the health insurance industry.

Murphy said the bill would save taxpayers $1.2 trillion over the next decade, citing a revised figure from the Congressional Budget Office.

But the massive change to health care, an industry that accounts for more than one-sixth of all annual economic activity, is not without bumps.

The rollout of the exchange has been rocky. And the press has documented examples of mistakes made in implementing the law.

"There is a lot of confusion. A lot of seniors sit home and watch Fox News and get angry," Marafino said.

Emmanuel Garcia, 85, of New Haven, complained about being confused by the letters that fill his mail box.

"Every week I am getting these letters telling me I owe $6,000," Garcia said.

Morico, who agreed to help Garcia sort through the confusion, said the letters are likely statements disclosing how much of his annual prescription benefit he has used to date.

"It's a consumer protection measure," Morico said.

Still Garcia said the care he receives through Medicare has helped.

"I was sick in October and I have been under the care that we were talking about today, and it works," Garcia said.

Call J. Brian Charles at 203-789-5742. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.

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