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#ILikeObamacare #HealthCareWorks
SUMMARY: After hearing the term misused as a smear for years, Americans are reclaiming "Obamacare." Here's how to talk about what "Obamacare" really means -- and why we'll hear "I like Obamacare" more and more as the health care law gets implemented.
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What Obamacare does: Insurance companies can no longer shut out 17 million children with pre-existing conditions, rip off their parents with sky-high premiums, or cut their coverage.
Look ahead: Insurance companies won't be able to use pre-existing conditions as an excuse to deny coverage to everyone else, either.
Core value: We can't let insurance companies go back to denying our families and friends coverage just because they've been sick before or have an illness now, like cancer or diabetes.
Killer fact: 105 million Americans -- a third of our population -- no longer lifetime limits on their health coverage thanks to the health law.
What Obamacare does: 105 million Americans with life-threatening illnesses no longer have to live in fear of hitting lifetime dollar limits on their coverage.
Core value: Moms and dads who get sick should be able to focus on seeing their kids grow up, not worrying when their insurance companies will cut them off.
Killer fact: Medical problems used to contribute to almost half of all bankruptcy filings, even though three-quarters of the people who filed had health insurance.
What Obamacare does: 45 million women now have access to preventive health care services like mammograms without having to pay extra out of pocket.
Look ahead: Insurance companies won't be able to charge women more than men for the same benefits or deny coverage because of a "pre-existing condition" like pregnancy or having been a victim of domestic violence.
Core value: Mothers and daughters should never have to pay more for health care benefits just because they're women.
Killer fact: Health insurance companies routinely charge women more than men for the same coverage -- costing women up to $1 billion more a year.
What Obamacare does: Nearly 50 million Americans can save money on their prescription drugs and get free preventive services through Medicare.
Look ahead: Medicare's trust fund is in better financial shape today than for most of its history thanks to the health care law.
Core value: Americans count on Medicare to be able to retire in dignity -- we need leaders who want to make it stronger, not take it away.
Killer fact: More than 5 million people with Medicare have saved $5 billion on their medicines so far thanks to Obamacare.
What Obamacare does: More than 3 million young people are now covered because insurance companies can no longer kick them off their parents' plans.
Killer fact: College students are more likely to be uninsured than any other age group, leaving them and their families one car accident or major injury away from bankruptcy.
Core value: Fixing our broken health care system is about more than what we do for ourselves -- it's about the country we leave to the next generation.
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