Ann Chrisman, was one of 10 Americans to meet with Obama. In a floor statement, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th District) opposed the House Republicans’ latest attempt to take health coverage away from Chrisman and millions of other Americans who have gained insurance under the law.
In July 2014, Chrisman, a 51-year-old mother of three and licensed massage therapist, wrote a letter to Obama saying that she could not afford health insurance. But when the Health Insurance Marketplace opened, Chrisman learned that she qualified for Medicaid in Connecticut. That coverage finally gave her the chance to see a doctor – and catch her breast cancer early.
In her letter to the president, Chrisman wrote, “The cancer has been detected at a very early stage, which, with a 98 percent survival rate, has saved my life! Moreover, the cost of this screening and minor procedure will be far less than the cost of treating a more developed cancer. Thank you, Mr. President, for assuring the passage of this critical legislation. You have profoundly improved the quality of my life.”
"Today, House Republicans made their 56th attempt to take health insurance away from Ann and millions of other families that now have health security for the first time,' Himes said. "Instead of continuing their partisan attacks on health reform, Republicans should be working with Democrats to make sure more middle-class and low-income Americans feel the benefits of our economic recovery.”
Since the launch of Access Health CT, Connecticut’s uninsured rate has been cut in half. During this year’s enrollment period, which ends Feb. 15, a total of 95,244 residents statewide have enrolled in private insurance plans, including 29,388 new enrollees.
In addition, 400,707 Connecticut residents have enrolled in Medicaid through Access Health since October 2013. About 10 million Americans gained health insurance in 2014 because of the Affordable Care Act, according to the White House.
Since the launch of the Affordable Care Act's first open enrollment period, more than 10.1 million Americans have enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, according to the Obama administration.
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