Center for American Progress

The Affordable Care Act: A Mother’s Day Gift for Moms Throughout the United States
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The Affordable Care Act: A Mother’s Day Gift for Moms Throughout the United States

Jessica Arons on how the Affordable Care Act benefits mothers.

People always say good health is the greatest gift, so let’s make health a priority this Mother’s Day. Now that I am a mother myself, I am even more appreciative that I have health insurance that covers the care I need. All moms deserve the kind of quality, affordable care that I was lucky enough to receive while pregnant and postpartum, and Obamacare is working to make that dream a reality.

While pregnant, what did I need the most—that is, besides a foot massage? Maternity care, of course. My prenatal visits reassured me that my pregnancy was progressing as it should and my insurance allowed me to use the provider of my choosing, labor in the setting I wanted, and get the emergency care I ultimately needed. Unfortunately, only 12 percent of plans in the individual health insurance market currently offer maternity coverage. Thankfully, starting in 2014, Obamacare will require all new health plans to cover maternity care as the essential health service that it is.

The above excerpt was originally published in RH Reality Check. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Jessica Arons

Director, Women\'s Health & Rights Program

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