Political Quotes

“Mr. President, in passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, PPACA, on March 23, 2010, the 111th Congress made great strides towards protecting consumers from egregious health insurance company practices. However, despite the passage of this historic legislation, the urgent need to protect Americans from unfair health insurance rate increases remains. Health insurance premiums have been spiraling upwards nationally at out-of-control rates--10, 20, 30 percent every year--all while big national insurance companies enjoy increasing profits. Without further legislative action, health insurance companies will continue to do what they have done for far too long: put their profits ahead of people. Over the past decade, family health insurance premiums have more than doubled, growing a shocking 130 percent, while workers' hourly earnings rose by only 38 percent, and inflation rose just 29 percent. From 2000-2008, individuals in the employer-sponsored market saw premiums increase an average of 90 percent. The cost of health insurance continues to outpace income and inflation for other goods and services, and these rapidly escalating costs strain businesses, families, and individuals. In 2009, 57 percent of people attempting to purchase insurance in the individual market found it difficult or impossible to afford coverage.…”