Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Announces Benefits of Health Care Reform to New Yorkers in the Sixth Congressional District

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of House Committee on Financial Services and Chairman of its Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade, announced specific benefits that health insurance reform will bring to constituents of the Sixth Congressional District. The plan will put Americans and small businesses back in charge of their health care choices and make coverage more affordable for everyone.

Here are just some of the benefits New Yorkers in the Sixth District will see from this reform:

• Improve coverage for 377,000 residents with health insurance.
• Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 132,000 families and 12,000 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
• Improve Medicare for 76,000 beneficiaries, including closing the donut hole.
• Extend coverage to 54,000 uninsured residents.
• Guarantee that 12,300 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
• Protect 600 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
• Allow 53,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans.
• Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 17 community health centers.
• Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $54 million annually.

“This bill will bring affordable high-quality health care for all of those in the Sixth Congressional District and across the country by putting the decision back into the hands of the American people. This bill puts each and every constituent in charge of their healthcare choices and prevents Americans from being denied coverage by insurance companies,” stated Congressman Meeks.

Approximately 56% of the Sixth Congressional district receives health care coverage from an employer or through policies purchased on the individual market. Under this legislation, individuals with insurance can keep the coverage they have now. The insurance reforms in the bill prohibit annual and lifetime limits, eliminate rescissions for individuals who become ill while insured, ban coverage denials for pre-existing conditions and reduce the cost of preventive care. To rein in soaring insurance costs, the reforms also limit the amount insurance companies can spend on administrative expenses, profits, and other overhead.

Those who do not receive health care coverage through their employer will be able to purchase coverage at group rates through the new health insurance exchange. To make this insurance affordable, the legislation contains the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history. There are 12,300 uninsured individuals in the district who have pre-existing medical conditions like cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Under the bill’s insurance reforms, they cannot be denied affordable coverage.

“It is of ultra importance that every hard working American receives affordable high quality healthcare. This critical legislation will extend coverage to 95% of all Americans when passed. For the Sixth Congressional District this means that 54,000 residents who currently do not have health insurance will receive coverage. I look forward to working with President Obama and my colleagues in Congress to ensure that this legislation is passed,” stated Congressman Meeks.

Now serving in his sixth full-term, Meeks was elected to the House on February 3, 1998. Representing New York's Sixth Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, Meeks' district covers all towns of Southeast Queens, Far Rockaway and Howard Beach. He is a member of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Congressman Meeks is the Chairman of the International Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. He is a Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), New Democrats Coalition and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). He serves as the Co-chair of the Malaysia Caucus, Services Caucus, Dialogue Caucus, OAS Caucus and the Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus.