Facts prove ACA has helped many people

Recent headlines point to continuing success of the ACA (Affordable Care Act) — particularly in Idaho and in Washington state.

Our state-run exchange has signed up more than 76,000 Idahoans for health insurance plans in the open-enrollment period, nearly double the number the federal government expected. “Idahoans are interested in getting insurance for themselves and their families,” says Amy Doud, head of the exchange.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is to thank for urging the state to launch YourHealthIdaho — which is operating on millions of federal grant funding but retains a lower fee than government-run plans, and with no cost to the state.

Meanwhile, in Washington, more than 600,000 residents have obtained new health insurance coverage through that state’s health care exchange. More than one million people have now accessed health insurance through the state’s website. Of these, 450,000 adults obtained new coverage under Medicaid, the federal-state program for the poor and disabled. (Idaho has turned down federal money that would have increased Medicaid coverage in this state.)

My son, who works for a small business that is not required to provide health insurance, now through ACA has thorough coverage at an affordable cost. Instead of fuzzy facts on the number of people who supposedly have “lost their health insurance because of Obamacare.” Terry Lamb (letter April 24) should name some people. And how many had insurance from companies that did not meet standards of proper coverage, and how many are still uncovered?

JAMES W. RAMSEY

Kootenai