What do federal health care changes mean for Iowa?

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the federal Affordable Care Act. This federal initiative has already helped thousands of Iowans by expanding access to health care, lowering costs and increasing preventative care. This includes:

• Helping Iowans with pre-existing conditions get coverage.

• Ensuring Iowans no longer have lifetime caps on health insurance policies.

• Providing Iowans with preventative health services without co-pays. This includes well-child visits, cancer screenings and immunizations.

• Allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance policy up to age 26.

• Saving Iowa seniors on Medicare thousands on prescription drugs.

Federal efforts could also expand Medicaid coverage to more than 80,000 additional Iowans, many of whom work fulltime. This will lower health care costs for everyone by ensuring more Iowans are able to get regular checkups and preventive care, rather than relying on expensive emergency room visits.

With the federal commitment to pay for almost all of the cost, Iowans could save hundreds of millions annually if we participate in the Medicaid Expansion offered under federal health care reform.