Kathy Castor: “Let's get to the facts on women's health care under the Affordable Care Act, which is 2 years old this week. First, good…”

“Let's get to the facts on women's health care under the Affordable Care Act, which is 2 years old this week. First, good news: The Affordable Care Act outlaws discrimination based on gender in copayments and premiums for the same coverage. Women have generally been charged more for health insurance. A recent report shows that more than 90 percent of the best-selling health plans still charge women more than men for the same coverage. The Affordable Care Act ends that discrimination. Second: Women can no longer be denied coverage by an HMO or health insurance company because they have a preexisting condition like breast cancer that's in remission, because they had a C-section when they delivered their child, or even because they had injuries from domestic violence. Third: Women no longer have to jump through the bureaucratic hoop of obtaining permission to see their OB/GYN. Fourth: Because prevention works and saves money, women in new health insurance plans will automatically be covered for screenings, mammograms, colonoscopies, and birth control. Finally, health insurance companies can no longer cancel your policy if you get sick. These are important consumer protections for women across America, for our mothers, for our daughters, and for our families. ____________________”