Health Care for America Now: After 10 Years, the Affordable Care Act is More Important Than Ever

WASHINGTON, March 24 -- Health Care for America Now issued the following statement by Executive Director Margarida Jorge n honor of the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act:

"As we mark the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act becoming law, the essential access to affordable care it provides millions of Americans has never been more important as the nation faces a pandemic that threatens our health and economic security.

"For the last decade, the ACA has saved lives, reined in insurance corporations that used to call the shots and helped families from going bankrupt due to health care costs. Thanks to the ACA, 20 million Americans gained life-saving health care and millions more, including the 135 million people living with pre-existing conditions, have been protected from the abuses of greedy insurance companies.

"Despite the overwhelming benefits the law has had for families, people of color, older Americans, children, women and veterans, Republican leaders have spent every day of the past ten years looking for new ways to undermine, sabotage and dismantle the law. Even in the midst of a pandemic, the Trump administration and Republican attorneys general from 20 states are suing to overturn the entire law and end its essential protections for millions without regard for the health and economic harm they will cause even to their own constituents. Now more than ever, the GOP needs to drop this lawsuit and take action to ensure people have more access to healthcare and treatment, not take away what is already in place.

"At every turn, Americans across the country have fought back against the unrelenting sabotage campaign Republicans have waged against the ACA, and they will continue to stand up for these vital protections and access to care for millions. The law has survived despite relentless attack from the GOP because it touches millions of people. In this moment, as we mark 10 years of making America healthier, it's time for President Trump and anti-ACA lawmakers to shift course and build on our healthcare system rather than continue their relentless repeal efforts. "

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Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is the national grassroots coalition that ran a $60 million five-and-a-half year campaign from 2008-2013 to pass, protect, and promote the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and protect Medicare and Medicaid. HCAN has come back together to fight the Republicans' all-out effort to take away America's health care and put people at the mercy of the health insurance companies again.