40 ways "Obamacare" is already working for Americans

This past week, our own US House of Representatives voted yet again, for the 40th time, to repeal the Affordable Care Act, "Obamacare."

The 40th time.

It's been estimated that all these votes have cost the nation fifty million dollars.

It's crazy.

So, herewith are 40 ways Obamacare is working, already helping us, Americans, and it hasn't even taken full effect yet:


1. Say goodbye to lifetime limits: Insurance companies will no longer be able to place an arbitrary cap on coverage.

2. Children can no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

3. Starting in 2014, adults will no longer be denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

Free preventive care, including:

4. Annual check-ups

5. Contraception

6. Vaccinations

7. Gestational diabetes screenings

8. Mammograms

9. Screening and counselling for HIV

10. Cholesterol screenings

11. Colonoscopies

12. Blood pressure screenings

13. Cancer screenings

14. Osteoporosis screenings

15. Young adults can stay on their parents' insurance plans until the age of 26.

16. If insurance companies aren't spending your premium dollars on your health care—at least 80 percent—they've got to give you some money back.

17. Insurance companies can't raise your rates by double-digits without justification.

18. Insurance plans can’t require higher co-payments or co-insurance if you get emergency care from an out-of-network hospital.

19. Women will no longer be charged more than men just because they're women.

20. The health insurance marketplace will be ready to go in every state starting October 1 of this year.

21. No-hassle comparisons: The online marketplace provides easy access to information on all available plans, so you can do a side-by-side comparison and find a plan that works for you.

22. Many Americans will be eligible for financial assistance to help them buy health insurance on their own, so you can afford a plan that will be there if you get sick.

23. When you buy insurance through the marketplace, premiums can be determined based only on these four factors: where you live, how old your are, how large your family is, and whether or not you are a smoker.

24. In the marketplace, you can choose a plan that matches your budget and needs: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.

25. By 2020, the Medicare prescriptions drug "donut hole" will be closed for good.

These are the essential benefits that all health plans in the marketplace must cover:

26. Ambulatory patient services

27. Emergency services

28. Hospitalization

29. Prenatal care

30. Neonatal care

31. Mental health services

32. Prescription drugs

33. Rehabilitative services and devices

34. Laboratory services like bloodwork

35. Preventive care

36. Wellness services

37. Chronic disease management

38. Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

39. Lower prescription drug costs for people on Medicare.

40. These states are already foreseeing dramatic drops in premiums: New York, California, Nevada, Connecticut, Oregon.

There you have it. 40 ways Obamacare is helping and will help Americans—benefits the House of Representatives is about to try to take away for the 40th time.

If you're sick and tired of repeal votes, add your name to stand up to the people trying to tear down Obamacare.