Obamacare should not be repealed

I am appalled at the scare tactics and lies still being thrown around by politicians and journalists when it comes to “Obamacare.” Having worked in the health insurance industry for the last 20 years, can I set the record straight?

Obamacare was signed into law March 23, 2010 and the following benefits are already being enjoyed by a vast number of Americans:

It allowed dependents up to the age of 26 to remain on their parents’ plan without being full-time students.

It provided unlimited preventive care benefits.

It provided coverage of “essential” benefits, which meant benefits improved for things like physical therapy and durable medical equipment.

It prevented insurance companies from denying benefits to children under age 19 due to pre-existing conditions, and beginning Aug. 1, additional women’s preventive health benefits will be added to plans, including $0 co-pay generic contraceptive drugs.

Obamacare also limits the amount of profit insurance companies can make — and this year, for the first time, many employers will be receiving a “rebate” Aug. 1 from their insurance company.

This is not socialized medicine. Everyone who has insurance today still has insurance, but with better coverage than four years ago. And people who haven’t been able to get insurance (and need insurance) will be able to get it in 2014 when insurance companies will be prohibited from denying or limiting coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

We should be proud that we’ve found a uniquely American way to insure our citizens without moving to socialized medicine. Do we really want to repeal this law? I think not!

Cathy Gerbracht

La Cañada Flintridge