Health Care
I believe universal health care coverage is the civil rights issue of our time. The need for safe, affordable health care is an issue that affects us all.
Historic Health Care Reform
After nearly a century of effort, I proudly voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. The new law is centered on building on what works in our current health system and fixing what is broken. It creates a regulated marketplace where individuals can purchase health care at affordable rates and where uninsured Americans can purchase subsidized insurance for themselves and their families. The law also expands Medicaid eligibility to millions of more lower-income families and eliminates the so-called "donut hole" or prescription drug coverage gap for seniors under Medicare's prescription drug program, making necessary medicines available to more of America's seniors.
The law improves quality and lowers costs for those who are currently insured and ends the discriminatory insurance industry practices like denying care because of a pre-existing medical condition and canceling your health coverage if you get sick. The law also requires health plans to provide free preventive care and screening, allows young people to stay on their parent's health plan until their 26th birthday, and provides access to an affordable way for small businesses to insure their employees.
To learn more about the historic health care reform law and to see how it affects you and your family, visithealthcare.gov.
Improving on Health Care Reform by Creating a Single-Payer System
I am steadfast advocate for a single-payer health care system. I am a proud co-sponsor of the United States Health Insurance Act, which will provide health care to all Americans by establishing a national single-payer health care system. I will continue to fight for single-payer health care system because I think it is only true way to make health care a right for every single American.
Mental Health Parity
I believe that insurance providers should cover mental illnesses and addiction in the same way that they cover physical ailments. On October 3, 2008, Congress finally passed the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and President Bush subsequently signed it into law. This crucial legislation was championed by the great Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, who died tragically before he could see this legislation become law.
More on Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after voting against the “Keep Your Health Plan†Act, which would allow insurance companies to continue the sale of low-quality insurance plans to consumers:
Protecting every American’s right to quality health care and a living wage job must be priority number one for this Congress. Sadly, today, the new Republican House of Representatives passed its first significant piece of legislation. It was not a bill designed to deal with the wave of home foreclosures devastating our communities or to put the millions of unemployed Americans back to work. Instead, the first priority of the new Republican majority was to take health care away from millions of Americans.
Please join Congressman Keith Ellison tonight from 7-8 PM for a telephone town hall on the scheduled vote to repeal the historic Affordable Care Act.
We will discuss how this proposed repeal would hurt the millions of Americans who are already benefiting from the law's protections, as well as the $230 billion hole that repeal would leave in our nation's budget deficit. Congressman Ellison will answer your questions and respond to your concerns -- please make your voice heard and join the call.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-Minneapolis) released the following statement about the new consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act that take effect today:
Today marks the beginning of the end of the worst health insurance industry abuses that have bankrupted American families and left patients to suffer. The Patient's Bill of Rights brings new rights, benefits, and protections to American consumers as part of the historic Affordable Care Act.
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-Minneapolis) issued the following statement regarding the House Education and Labor Committee’s legislation introduced yesterday to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act:
"I commend Chairman George Miller for developing a strong bill to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act. This legislation will reform our school meals programs by reducing barriers to participation, improving program access, and enhancing the quality of school meals.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) received a 100 percent voting record according to the Alliance for Retired Americans 2009 Congressional Voting Record. The Fifth District Congressman was one of 183 U.S. House Members to receive the distinction.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) introduced the School Meals Stigma Reduction Act of 2010, H.R. 5167. The legislation would curtail practices by some school districts that stigmatize children when their families cannot afford to pay for school meals. Thousands of Minnesota children depend on federally subsidized school meals.
“Hungry minds cannot learn on empty stomachs,” Ellison said. “This legislation takes the burden of the tough economic times off the backs of innocent children and hard-working parents.”
Starting immediately and throughout the coming year, our families, small businesses, seniors, and young Americans will begin to feel the real and positive impact of health insurance reform. The following interactive graphic will show you the benefits of the new law that begin within the first year.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Keith Ellison (D-5th District) voiced his strong support today for the impending votes on the historic health care legislation before the U.S. Congress.