Overview
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) need universal access to high quality, affordable health care. While progress has been made, there is more work to be done to improve health care for people with IDD. We must continue our fight to protect and expand access to health care.
You can learn more about The Arc’s position on health care by reading our position statement.
Why It Matters
For decades, people with IDD have been left behind in our nation’s health care system. People with disabilities face discrimination and barriers to accessing affordable and quality health care. People with IDD are also more likely to live in poverty and cannot afford cost-sharing. Even when services are available in a community, many people with IDD lack adequate public or private insurance to pay for them.
With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), significant progress was made toward accomplishing our nation’s goal of universal access to high-quality, affordable health care for all people with disabilities. The ACA includes historic coverage expansions; nondiscrimination and health insurance reforms; strengthened prevention provisions; numerous enhancements to Medicare and Medicaid; and other provisions that significantly benefit people with disabilities.
What The Arc Is Doing
The Arc supports access to affordable, comprehensive public and private health insurance. We work to broaden access to health care coverage in several ways.
Our Policy Goals
The Arc’s Public Policy Goals include many recommendations on how to achieve universal access to high-quality, affordable health care.
Our Coalition Work
The CCD Health Task Force, which The Arc co-chairs, works with Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain the comprehensive health care reforms achieved in the passage of the ACA, like pre-existing condition protections. We will work to advance the policy agenda that was not addressed by the ACA or only partially addressed, as well as protect the ACA from repeal efforts as they arise.
The Affordable Care Act Private Marketplace
One major part of the ACA, the Private Marketplace, began offering health insurance in every state on October 1, 2013. HealthCare.gov provides information on coverage options in each state and shows which private insurance plans, public programs, and community services are available to individuals.
How You Can Help
Advocate for access to affordable health care with your representatives in Congress!
Follow a manual added link
DONATE
Help strengthen our policy advocacy efforts to protect critical programs.
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
