WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown released the following statement on Governor Kasich’s decision to implement a key provision of the federal health care law that would extend health coverage to more than 450,000 uninsured Ohioans:

“Today’s announcement is good news for health care consumers, taxpayers, and businesses in Ohio. Thanks to this key provision of the health law being implemented in our state, more than 450,000 uninsured Ohioans will gain access to health coverage. This will improve the health of Ohioans, reduce costly emergency room visits that are passed along to taxpayers and employers, and help bring new jobs to our state through a healthier and more productive workforce.”

Brown fought to pass the Affordable Care Act which was signed into law more than nearly three years ago. The law has already benefitted Ohioans in the following ways:

  • Nearly 97,000 of Ohio’s young adults are now able to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26 while they finish school or start a career.
  • More than 2,000 Ohioans with pre-existing conditions have access to health care through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
  • Children with pre-existing conditions – like asthma or diabetes or cancer – can no longer be denied coverage – or dropped from their parents’ insurance.
  • More than 2.1 million Ohioans with private insurance gained preventive health services with no cost-sharing.
  • More than 4.5 million Ohioans are no longer in danger of hitting a lifetime limit on insurance coverage as the ACA bans companies from placing a monetary limit on care.  This means cancer patients, individuals with Parkinson’s or MS, and children with disabilities will not face financial ruin due to medical bills.
  • More than 1.2 million seniors on Medicare received free preventive services such as annual wellness exams and cancer screenings in 2011.
  • Ohio seniors who have reached the so-called “donut hole” have seen their prescription drug costs cut in half – saving more than $164 million.  In the first five months of 2012, 36,291 people with Medicare in Ohio saved a total of $24,417,492 – which is an average saving of $673.
  • Up to 147,000 small businesses are eligible for tax credits so that they can attract employees by offering them health coverage.
  • More than 5,000 Ohio construction jobs and 10,000 full-time jobs have been supported through grant funding – like the competitive award received by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center to help fund OSU’s Project One, a $1 billion expansion project.

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