Zoe Lofgren has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995. She represents the 19th District of California, based in the “Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose, and the Santa Clara Valley.
A lifelong Bay Area resident and the daughter of a truck driver and a cafeteria cook, Zoe attended public schools and attended Stanford University on a California State Scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1970. Prior to attending Stanford, Lofgren worked the night shift at the Eastman Kodak plant in Palo Alto to save money for non-tuition college expenses not covered by her scholarship. After graduating from Stanford, she attended, with the help of a scholarship, Santa Clara University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1975.
Expanding access to quality, affordable health care has been one of Zoe’s driving causes as an elected official. She supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - also known as Obamacare - as a step in the right direction towards this goal, particularly for working Americans who could not previously afford health care.
The Affordable Care Act provides health care insurance for more than 20 million individuals across America, and Zoe opposes any heedless dismantling of good health policies that would jeopardize the well-being of families and individuals currently covered by this plan. Zoe opposed the Republican Affordble Care Act replacement plan which would increase the cost of health care premiums for middle-class Americans while providing tax breaks for the top 1% of taxpayers. Their legislation would also speed up the Medicare Trust Fund's insolvency by 4 years, enable insurance companies to penalize individuals for lapses in coverage, and elminate funding for Planned Parenthood to provide affordable health care services for women. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that 24 million Americans would be uninsured by 2026 under the Republicans' failed proposal.
While the Trump Administration and the Republican Congress have made repeal of the Affordable Care Act and the protections the law provides a top priority, their actions have not succeeded in altering the law's core provisions. It is important to note that while the Republican "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" repealed the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and associated tax penalty for certain individuals not enrolled in a health insurance plan, this will not take effect until 2019.
Medicare for All:
Zoe is a member of the Medicare for All Congressional Caucus and supports efforts to make health care more affordable for and accessible to everyone. She believes expanding Medicare to all Americans is a good way to accomplish that. Several proposals have already been introduced in Congress for this effort.
Zoe cosponsors:
The introduction of a bill is just the beginning of the legislative process. Each of these bills need further work. But, Zoe hopes to help move the conversation forward as Congress debates the best way to address this issue.
You can find a resolution by Zoe on realizing Medicare for All here.
You can find a Vox news analysis of the differences between these bills here.
Healthcare Reform and California:
Individuals and families in California now have many options for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act through the California marketplace called "Covered California." For qualifying individuals and families, financial assistance helps make health insurance more affordable.
The Covered California marketplace is designed for Californians who do not have health insurance and for those who purchase insurance in the individual market. The marketplace also offers private plans. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, you can no longer be denied or canceled for a pre-existing medical condition or illness under any of these plans, or any others purchased elsewhere, or through your workplace.
You can shop for insurance and sign up for the plan of your choice during the annual open-enrollment period, which begans on October 15, 2019. A single application will let you know if you qualify for Covered California or Medi-Cal coverage. During the year, Californians may be eligible to sign up for a plan due to a qualifying life-changing event, like getting married, having a child or moving. Medi-Cal enrollment is year-round.