JOSH CLAIMS: Sherrod voted for Obamacare which will go down as the largest tax increase in U.S. history and hurt manufacturing jobs.

THE TRUTH:  Sherrod voted to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare for millions more Americans.

1. Sherrod voted for healthcare reform that would ban insurance companies from denying or refusing coverage for Americans with “preexisting conditions” and close the donut hole for seniors’ prescription drugs, saving Americans thousands in out-of-pocket expenses. [New York Times, 3/26/12]

2. Sherrod voted to continue providing preventive services which could save states “hundreds of millions in healthcare costs”. [Washington Post, 07/18/08]

3. Sherrod voted for healthcare reform which will provide a small business tax credit to 147,000 small businesses in Ohio. [Healthreform.gov, Accessed 04/12/12]

4.  Over 1 million Ohio seniors have received free preventative health services and over 200,000 Ohio seniors have saved an average of $600 on prescription drug costs.

March 2011: Congressional Budget Office Estimated That Healthcare Reform Reduces The Federal Deficit By $143 Billion Over A Ten Year Period.  In a March 2011 report, the Congressional Budget Office wrote “enacting PPACA and the Reconciliation Act would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010–2019 period as a result of changes in direct spending and revenues.”  [CBO’s Analysis of the Major Health Care Legislation Enacted in March 2010, 3/30/11]

Repealing Healthcare Reform Would Increase The Deficit By $210 Billion.  In February 2011, The Hill reported “Repealing Democrats’ healthcare reform law would increase the deficit by $210 billion over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office said Friday.”  [The Hill, 2/18/11]

85% Of Americans Favored ACA Provision Which Required Insurance Companies To Cover Those With Pre-Existing Conditions.  In March 2012, a CBS News/New York Times poll showed that 85% of Americans favor the Affordable Care Act provision that requires health insurance companies cover those with pre-existing conditions.  [New York Times, 3/26/12]

68% Of Americans Favored ACA Provision Allowing Children To Stay On Their Parents Policies Until Age 26.  In March 2012, a CBS News/New York Times poll showed that 68% of Americans favor the Affordable Care Act provision that allows children to stay on their parents policies until age 26.  [New York Times, 3/26/12]

77% Of Americans Favored ACA Provision Offering Discounts To Reduce The Medicare Doughnut Hole.  In March 2012, a CBS News/New York Times poll showed that 77% of Americans favor the Affordable Care Act provision that offers discounts to reduce the Medicare doughnut hole.  [New York Times, 3/26/12]

Before The Affordable Care Act, Being Pregnant, The Victim Of Domestic Violence or Having a C-Section Could Be Classified As A “Preexisting Condition,” And A Reason To Deny Coverage.  In March 2012, The San Francisco Chronicle opined “As the U.S. Supreme Court takes up next week whether the Affordable Care Act is constitutional, women should remember what the act does for them.”  The Chronicle continued by writing that the Affordable Care Act “Ensures health care insurers cannot deny coverage for ‘pre-existing conditions,’ including pregnancy, having a C-section or having been a victim of domestic violence.”  [San Francisco Chronicle, 3/21/12]

Experts: Parents and Children Under 26 Are Going To Sleep Easier With Provision Keeping Young Adults On Parents’ Insurance.  In March 2010, The Tampa Bay Times reported “One of the most anticipated parts of the new federal health care law is a provision allowing parents to keep adult children on their health insurance plans up to age 26.”  The Tampa Bay Times continued “While details on the degree to which they can be financially independent remain to be clarified in the coming weeks, experts say this much is clear: Many parents and their adult children are going to be able to sleep easier.” [Tampa Bay Times, 3/29/10]

Since Health Care Bill Was Passed Over 1 Million Ohio Seniors Have Received Free Preventative Care Services And Over 200,000 Ohio Seniors Have Saved An Average of $600 A Year On Prescription Drug Costs. 

Ohio Seniors Using Preventative Services

2011 – 922,374 [HHS]

2012 – 650,428 [HHS]

Ohio Seniors Getting Donut Hole Relief 

2011 – 185,014 with an average savings of $512 [HHS]

2012 – 96,032 so far in 2012 with an average savings of $681 [HHS]