Cohen Highlights Expanded Choice, Low Cost of Health Insurance in New Obamacare Marketplace
[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today touted a new report showing that uninsured Memphians will pay even less than expected for quality health insurance when Tennessee’s health insurance marketplace begins a six-month open enrollment period on October 1st. The insurance marketplace, a signature benefit of President Obama’s landmark Affordable Care Act, will also give consumers throughout Tennessee significantly more choice in selecting the health insurance plan that is right for them, allow Memphians to compare plan benefits, costs and quality side by side, as well as inform residents of the tax rebates and premium assistance that they qualify for in real-time.
“Today’s report is yet more evidence that the landmark Affordable Care Act will help give those in our society who need it most as well as the middle class a better chance at the American Dream,” said Congressman Cohen. “As the wealth gap continues to widen, we must remember that what we do to ‘the least of these’ demonstrates who we are as human beings and as a nation. Republicans continue to let the extremists in their party dominate their legislative agenda. Their efforts will not succeed.”
Today’s report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that, taking into account tax credits that will be made available when an insurance plan is selected, a 27-year old living in Tennessee and making $25,000 per year will pay only $103 each month for the lowest cost insurance plan, and that a Tennessee family of four with an income of $50,000 could pay as little as $128 per month for their insurance. Nationally, the report also found that the average mid-level plan available through the health insurance marketplaces will cost 16% less than earlier projections.
“Every American deserves adequate health care and these continued efforts to repeal, defund or delay the Affordable Care Act are folly. Obamacare as enacted is very close to health care legislation proposed throughout the years by many Republicans from President Nixon to Bob Dole and is modeled on the Massachusetts law that was enacted under Governor Mitt Romney. Republicans must put these games aside and focus on growing our economy to help our citizens.”
Those interested in finding more information about the health insurance plans made available through the marketplace and those with questions or seeking help choosing the right plan have a number of options available to them. The https://HealthCare.gov website (en Español: https://CuidadoDeSalud.gov) provides information and offers online web chats with trained specialists, a 24-hour hotline with translation services for 150 languages is available at (800) 318-2596, and local non-profit Seedco will offer trained experts to help walk Memphians through the process and help them enroll in insurance plans.