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CBCF Welcomes Opening of Health Insurance Marketplaces

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) released the following statement today in recognition of the beginning of enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is pleased that a critical component of ACA—the health insurance marketplaces—will begin to be implemented today, as scheduled. For far too long, the lack of affordable health insurance coverage has been a grim reality for millions of Americans. It has prevented them from obtaining the medical care that they need. And it has led to unacceptable disparities in our nation: individuals who can afford to maintain good health and those who simply cannot.

“According to the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, African Americans account for nearly 20 percent of the 48.61 million people in this country who are living without health insurance coverage. As a result, CBCF has worked with communities across the country over the past few years to ensure the smooth implementation of ACA. The Foundation has been providing information about critically important provisions of the new law as well as the benefits available to individuals.

“Our goal is to arm people with knowledge that can help them become more engaged in advocating for health care resources in their communities. In keeping with our mission to educate the public, CBCF has added this link to its website to provide regular updates to help individuals as they move through the health care registration process:
https://www.cbcfinc.org/images/CBCF_ACA_Implementation_Web_version_9-13-13.pdf

“As more Americans gain access to affordable, quality health care through ACA, our nation will become a more just place. The medically underserved will no longer need to turn to expensive and overcrowded emergency rooms to treat all sorts of illnesses. They will have access to the latest advances in disease prevention and disease management. This is something all Americans can celebrate.”

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