Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor,
America’s health care law, the Affordable Care Act, turns a year old on March 23.  That’s good news for California one-year-olds – and seven-year-olds, and lots of other California kids.

California leaders have worked hard to build a track record of success on health care reform, especially the portions which deal with children’s health issues.  As a result, roughly four million children who would otherwise be uninsured can see a doctor when they are sick or injured, get the preventive car they need to stay healthy and can’t be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition.

The California Department of Managed Health Care will continue to make sure that the Affordable Care Act can deliver even bigger wins for kids in the coming years.  The law authorizes new insurance marketplaces or “exchanges,” to make private insurance work better.  Exchange plans can make pediatrician-recommended care available to kids through private insurance, and subsidies can make care more affordable for children in middle-class families.  The law also authorizes improvements to Medi-Cal that can make health care a reality for millions more children who are uninsured today.

The Affordable Care Act’s first birthday is the perfect time to remind families that there are many new opportunities to keep their kids healthy.
Edward G. Heidig,
Interim Director
California Department of Managed Health Care, Sacramento