CASTRO ON TEXANS’ AFFORDABLE CARE OPTIONS

Washington, D.C. –Congressman Joaquin Castro today released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services released a report detailing affordable options for San Antonio residents seeking to sign up for new healthcare plans through the Affordable Care Act.

 

One in four Texans do not have health care. Texas has the infamous reputation of being the state with the highest share of uninsured residents in the nation. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, about 78 percent of uninsured Americans will be eligible to enroll in new health care. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that San Antonio families looking for insurance will now have 58 affordable plans to choose from when the enrollment begins on October 1. Premiums for these plans will also be 16 percent lower than previously estimated. 

 

“If folks already have health insurance and are satisfied with their plan, then they do not have to worry about the launch of the program enrollment,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro.  “For those San Antonians that do not have health care or want to explore other care options, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, they have more than 50 options to choose from starting October 1. The great news is that folks can no longer be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition and these care choices allow San Antonians and all Americans to figure out what works best for their families and their budgets.”

 

Open enrollment for these healthcare plans begins October 1, 2013 and runs through March 2014. HealthCare.gov or cuidadodesalud.gov are sites dedicated to disseminating more information on enrollment, benefits and quality of each plan, as well as information on eligibility. This information is also available by calling 1-800-318-2596 toll free.