In late 2013, millions of Americans received notices informing them that their health insurance plans were being canceled.  On December 1, 2014, approximately 250,000 Virginians will lose their non-employer based coverage.  Furthermore, Virginia’s Senate Democrats had the opportunity to help these Virginian families, but they failed us.  They voted on partisan lines and killed the legislation that would have allowed Virginians to keep their health insurance policies. 

Unlike Kentucky, West Virginia, and twenty-one other States, Virginia has not accepted the President’s two-year extension for individual and small group health plans, which would allow existing policy renewals as late as October 1, 2016.  Furthermore, this extension would give individuals and small businesses opportunity to keep their non-compliant Affordable Care Act coverage until 2017.  

Without this extension, many of Virginia's small business owners and their employees will have a 40% cost increase.  Virginian families will have to endure up to and over 100% increase in their premiums and deductibles. 

 However, Governor Terry McAuliffe and the General Assembly can fix this hardship by following the lead of the twenty-three other states that have accepted the extension.  This extension will ease the financial burden for 250,000 Virginian residents.  It will give Virginian families more physician choices, and availability with lower deductible rates.  Let us stand together and tell Governor McAuliffe and the General Assembly to fulfill President Obama promise, “If you like your healthcare plan, you can keep it.  Sign the petition now so we can help and save 250,000 Virginians from losing their insurance policies.