WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) released the following statement in response to President Obama’s Plan to Help Consumers Facing Cancellations to their Healthcare Insurance Policies:

“I remain committed to the Affordable Care Act which is designed to provide access to health care for all Americans. While no law is perfect, I believe it is imperative that we provide access to healthcare for the 42 million Americans that are uninsured. I am encouraged by the President’s efforts to honor his promise to ensure that individuals keep their current plans while giving them one year to evaluate better coverage options under the Affordable Care Act. I hope that those individuals that have plans with insufficient coverage will take this year to evaluate alternative plans that may in fact be better. It is my hope that the Administration continues to make the regulatory changes necessary to improve the Affordable Care Act so that it works for all insured and uninsured Americans.

I voted against H.R.3350 (the bill sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton) because it is yet another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Rather than working together to improve this law, this bill seeks to unravel the protections and securities provided to the American people through the ACA.  This bill puts insurance companies back in charge of our health care which could allow them to continue discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions and forcing women to pay more than men for the same coverage. We need to work together to improve the unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act rather than dismantle it.”

For more background about the President’s announcement please visit:http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/11/14/president-obama-announces-new-steps-help-americans-receiving-insurance-cancellation-

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