On the recordMarch 30, 2011
as we pass the 1-year anniversary since health care reform was signed into law, I rise to recognize how much it has benefitted thousands in my State. South Dakotans now have a fair shake when it comes to buying health coverage and increased protections from some of the worst abuses of the health insurance industry. I have heard from far too many who thought they were protected by their health insurance, only to find they faced arbitrary annual or lifetime limits on benefits. Some were even dropped entirely from their coverage when they needed it the most. Health reform has already put an end to these practices, and is giving hard-working Americans the security of reliable coverage. Commonsense changes that had been supported by Republicans and Democrats in Congress for years are also now in effect. Children are no longer at risk for being denied coverage due to a preexisting condition like asthma or diabetes. Young adults are now able to stay on their parent's health care plan until age 26, extending coverage as many transition from education to the workforce. Over 129,000 South Dakota seniors are already seeing improvements to Medicare, including eliminated copayments for preventive care like immunizations and annual wellness visits. Last year over 11,945 Medicare beneficiaries in our State reached the gap in prescription drug coverage, known as the donut hole, and received a one-time $250 rebate to help pay for prescriptions.…
