Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted five years ago, thousands of Nevadans have gained access to the affordable health care they need and deserve. The health and wellbeing of Nevadans has always been one of my top priorities, which is why I proudly championed the passage of this landmark legislation. I am so pleased to see that the ACA is benefitting millions of Americans by lowering costs and increasing access to quality, affordable health coverage. In addition, we are experiencing the slowest growth in health care costs in decades and the number of uninsured Americans is at a record low.
The Affordable Care Act is working for Americans, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Prior to the ACA, one in every six AAPIs were uninsured. Thanks to the law, two million AAPIs are projected to gain health insurance coverage by 2016 alone. In addition, eight million Asian Americans with private insurance now have access to certain preventive services with no out of pocket cost. These services include immunizations, mammograms, diabetes screenings, well-women and well-child visits, and flu shots for all children and adults. These changes vastly improve the health and wellbeing of all AAPIs, particularly those who previously could not afford health care.
The ACA also created the health insurance marketplace, which allows eligible individuals to enroll in a high-quality health insurance plan that meets their health care needs and works with their budget. Thousands of AAPIs have already signed up for coverage through this platform. Enrolling in coverage through the marketplace also allows eligible enrollees to receive financial assistance to make coverage even more affordable.
Last year, 89 percent of Nevadans who selected a plan on the marketplace were eligible for an average savings of $242 per month to lower their monthly premium payments. The open enrollment period to sign-up for a health plan on the marketplace began on November 1, 2015, and will conclude on January 31, 2016. To get started, log on to www.nevadahealthlink.com or www.healthcare.gov.
The health insurance marketplace can also connect eligible Nevadans to Medicaid and Nevada Check Up. Through the ACA, many states, including Nevada, decided to expand their Medicaid program. Because of this expansion, millions of low-income individuals are newly eligible for Medicaid. Nevada Check Up covers children whose parents earn too much money to be eligible for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private health insurance coverage. Individuals and families can see if they are eligible for these programs by answering a few questions on Nevada Health Link or HealthCare.gov. Nevadans can also apply year-round by contacting the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.
Nevada Health Link also provides free, in-person assistance for people who need help enrolling in a plan. I encourage all Nevadans to visit www.nevadahealthlink.com or www.healthcare.gov to learn more about the ACA and the 2016 open enrollment period.
AAPIs have also been influential in ensuring the health care law’s provisions regarding nondiscrimination are effectively implemented. Leading AAPI groups, including the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), and the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), recently expressed their support for a Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule that would prohibit all forms of discrimination in certain health programs and activities, including discrimination based on English proficiency and immigration status. As noted by NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang, “an estimated 9 million limited English proficient individuals are thought to be uninsured, and one third of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population is limited English proficient. Culturally and linguistically appropriate resources are necessary for our communities to have equal access to the health care they need and deserve.”
We still have work to do to ensure continued affordability and increased access for all Americans. However, given the many benefits of the ACA, our state cannot afford to see the law repealed.
