Al Franken: “I would like to join many of my colleagues who are each talking a little bit about the affordable care act, which…”

“I would like to join many of my colleagues who are each talking a little bit about the affordable care act, which celebrates its second anniversary of being signed into law by the President tomorrow. Even though the law will not be fully implemented until 2014, millions of Americans and Minnesotans are already enjoying the benefits from important provisions in the law. For example, no child in Minnesota, no child in New Hampshire, and no child in America can now be denied health insurance coverage because he or she has a preexisting condition. Parents across Minnesota and around the country can sleep a little bit easier knowing that if their child gets sick, they will still be able to get the health care coverage they need. That is a big deal. Speaking of parents, young adults can now stay on their parents' health insurance until they are 26. Thanks to the affordable care act, 32,189 young adults in Minnesota are now insured on their parents' policy. Because of this law health insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on health care benefits. Just a few weeks ago, I heard from a Minnesotan in his thirties who has hemophilia. He had already hit his lifetime cap three times, but because of the health care reform law he still has insurance. No American can ever again have their health insurance taken away from them because they have reached some arbitrary lifetime limit, and I am proud of that. Let's talk about seniors.…”