Fall is in the air. So too, for many in college (and their parents), are the effects of reforming health care. You see, if not for this day one year ago, college’s super-seniors, grad students, and those just beginning to enter this less-than-ideal job market would have had to face the perils of going uninsured.
On September 23, 2010:
- Young adults (up to age 26) were allowed to remain on their parents’ health insurance, if their parents so desired;
- Insurers could no longer deny children coverage for a pre-existing condition; and
- No health plan could have a lifetime or annual limit on certain benefits or rescind coverage if an individual got sick.
So today, we celebrate. We celebrate the day Congress stood up against injustice and insurance cronies. We celebrate a President who stood up for young people, old people, poor people, rich people, working people, sick people, and yes, even healthy people.
Today, we cheer the million more people ages 19 to 25 who had health insurance in the first quarter of 2011 than in the same time period in 2010, because we know prevention and early-intervention are the best and most cost-effective medicines.
Most of all, we are humbled by the fight that got us to this day. We know it was neither easy nor without risk. But today, we are sure, the Affordable Care Act was a fight worth winning. Thank you, Mr. President.