"On October 1, 2013, the new Health Insurance Marketplace opened as part of the Affordable Care Act implementation. While the Affordable Care Act is designed to provide quality and affordable health insurance to people, the Veterans Affairs health care program remain viable options for those who qualify for those benefits. The VA health care program, the Civilian Health and Medical program (CHAMPVA), and the Spina Bifida health care program all meet the minimum essential coverage requirement under the new health care law.
With VA Health Care programs, there is still no enrollment fee, monthly premium, or deductibles. Many veterans will still have no out-of-pocket costs and can still use Medicare, TRICARE, or private insurance under the VA’s program. Those who remain uninsured, including veterans, starting in 2014 will have to pay either a flat fee or a percentage of their taxable income depending on which amount is higher.
Since a number of my constituents are veterans, it is important that they are aware of all of their health insurance options. Nationally, 1.3 million non-elderly veterans do not have health insurance which means one in every ten of those veterans is uninsured. I fully encourage our veterans to seek the care that they deserve and to fully utilize their earned health care benefits.
Also at play is the option of Medicaid as health insurance coverage. Many of these uninsured veterans also qualify for Medicaid. Though Medicaid expansion in Texas would inevitably help low-income veterans and civilians, VA health care benefits and the new Marketplaces are certainly an important piece of our nation’s health care coverage puzzle.
The Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, has already positively impacted many of my own constituents. In my district, 10,100 young adults now have health insurance through their parents’ health plan. More than 4,000 seniors received discounts on prescription drugs worth approximately $5.6 million. More than 124,000 people – including 26,000 children and 54,000 women – now have access to free preventive services through their health insurance coverage. About 48,000 children cannot be denied health insurance based on a pre-existing condition. With the recent implementation of the Marketplaces, up to 204,000 uninsured people in my district will have access to coverage.
Veterans may also choose to enroll in Marketplace options provided by the Affordable Care Act that could lower the cost of their health insurance. Uninsured spouses of veterans who do not have access to VA benefits can also enter the Marketplace to access quality health insurance with eligibility for financial assistance.
It is my hope that veterans take advantage of the myriad of options available through the Affordable Care Act and the VA. Ensuring that our veterans have access to various services such as routine and preventive care, dental care, vision care, and emergency services is very important to me. I will work tirelessly to make sure that my constituents are aware of their options. For more information about the Marketplace, go to healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. For more information about VA health care benefits, go to va.gov/health or call 1-877-222-8387." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
Congresswoman Johnson is the most senior Congressional Democrat in Texas and the Ranking Member on the Committee on Science, Space, & Technology
Source: Dallas Weekly
