By Michelle Wiebach
August 23, 2010
August 23, 2010
Representative Loretta Sanchez sold the benefits of health care reform to a group of seniors at the FullertonSeniorMulti-ServiceCenter earlier this month on Aug 5.
Sanchez, (D-Anaheim), talked to seniors about the benefits that would go into effect within the next month and the next three years. “We want to keep you healthy,” Sanchez said. “As we get older we start to break down. I know I feel it.”
Sanchez, who waited until the last minute to cast her vote in favor of health care reform, has been trekking around OrangeCounty to sell the benefits of health care and explain how people will see new changes.
Sanchez faces re-election against Assemblyman Van Tran, (R-Costa Mesa) in November. Tran is riding support from the Vietnamese Community and has received endorsement from the Tea Party. The Tea Party movement, which started in 2009, has protested against government programs such as bailouts and health care.
Some provisions of the health care overhaul will take effect as soon as next month. Although pre-existing conditions will not apply to children, they will qualify to stay on their parents’ insurance plan until age 26. This would help college graduates who are struggling in the workforce, Sanchez said.
“I think the new health care plan sounds better,” Donna Simmons, a senior who supports health care reform, said. “It will take time. It won’t happen overnight,” she added.
The health care bill was passed last March and signed into law. But it has encountered strong opposition from conservative groups. “There are flaws in the [health care] system,” Kay Bryant, Placentia, said. “I don’t think anyone knows what will happen when ‘Obamacare’ goes into effect.”
The health care bill will insure 30 million people and require most to have health insurance coverage or pay a fine. While most were in favor of health care reform, a few were not convinced the plan would benefit everyone. Some seniors were concerned about how health care would affect those who are currently insured.
Sanchez said that those insured could still keep their plans and that most of the new benefits would not happen for three years because the government does not want to impact people who are already insured.
Benefits taking effect in 2011 that help seniors on Medicare include lower prescription drug costs and improve preventive care under Medicare, such as cancer tests and cardiovascular screenings.
“The facts speak for themselves,” Sanchez said.
For more information on health care visit: healthcare.gov.
