UC San Francisco
The road to health care reform has been a long one in America. The movement toward making health care accessible and affordable began more than 100 years ago.
Here is a look at highlights over the past three years that culminates today with the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare:
Feb. 24, 2009: President Barack Obama promises health care reform in his first address to a Joint Session of Congress
March 5, 2009: The White House convenes a summit on reforming health care
Sept. 9, 2009: President Obama lays out his vision for health care reform during an address to a Joint Session of Congress
Dec. 24, 2009: The U.S. Senate passes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by a vote of 60–39 with all Democrats and two Independents voting for, and all Republicans voting against it
Jan. 27, 2010: In first State of the Union address, President Obama focuses on health care reform
Feb. 25, 2010: The White House hosts a bipartisan summit on reform that leads to a productive discussion
March 21, 2010: The U.S. House of Representatives passes the bill by a vote of 219–212, with 34 Democrats and all 178 Republicans voting against it
March 23, 2010: President Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, an historic overhaul of the American health care system
June 10, 2010: Seniors see the first benefit of the Affordable Care Act as $250 rebate checks are sent
July 1, 2010: Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to health coverage
Sept. 23, 2010: Patients can now take advantage of their first new set of protections under the new health care law
Jan. 1, 2011: Medicare starts offering free preventive care for seniors and lower prescription drug costs for seniors. The new Health Care Innovation Center was established to research, develop, test, and expand innovative new ways to improve the quality and reduce the cost of care
Sept. 1, 2011: Health insurers seeking to increase their rates by 10 percent or more must submit their request to state or federal reviewers to determine whether they are reasonable or not
Dec. 14, 2011: The White House reports that since the new health care law came into effect in September 2010, 2.5 million more Americans under the age of 26 have received coverage by registering under their parents' health insurance plans
March 26-27, 2012: The U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases
June 28, 2012: The U.S. Supreme Court announces 5-to-4 ruling upholding the landmark health care law
Source: White House, Health Reform
