NEW YORK - Congressman Charles Rangel on Thursday commemorated the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the healthcare reform law, by visiting the Hip Hop HEALS (Healthy Eating and Living in Schools) Program hosted by Dr. Olajide Williams and Hip Hop Public Health at PS 197 in Harlem.

Using hip hop music, dance and cartoons, Hip Hop Public Health teaches children about physical activity, nutrition, stroke, and how to be aware of and combat debilitating conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and smoking.

"I can not think of a better way to celebrate the one-year anniversary of this groundbreaking legislation than with these children at Hip Hop HEALS," said Rangel, who played a significant role in the passage of the healthcare reform as former chairman of the Ways and Means committee. "Provisions in the bill will prevent predatory insurance companies from denying or dropping coverage to children, and it will allow all children to stay on their parents' healthcare plan until the age of 26."

In addition to the Hip Hop HEALS Program, which hosted 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students, Thursday's event also marked National Nutrition Month, Brain Injury Awareness Month, and Brain Injury Awareness Week, which lasted from March 14 to March 20, 2011.

"I am so inspired by all of the incredible work that Dr. Williams and Hip Hop Public Health are doing to help educate our children about living a healthy and active lifestyle, as well as understanding the warning signs for stroke and other conditions," said Rangel.

 "Leading an active lifestyle and maintaining a healthy diet are two of the most important ways we can prevent illness and control healthcare cost. Dr. Williams and Hip Hop Public Health are shining examples of the efforts we should make in creating a healthier and more vibrant American community."

One Year After Enactment: What A Difference A Year Makes

Patients’ Rights Guaranteed By The Affordable Care Act:

•    If you are a young adult, you can now stay on your parents’ health plan until your 26th birthday, if you do not have coverage of your own.

•    If you are among 4 million eligible small businesses, you can receive tax credits if you choose to offer coverage to your employees – covering 35% of the cost of coverage. 

•    If you are a child under age 19, you can no longer be denied coverage by an insurance company for having a “pre-existing condition.”

•    Your insurance company can no longer place a lifetime limit on your coverage.  Such limits have caused some families to declare bankruptcy.

•    If you are a senior, you will now be receiving a 50% discount on brand-name drugs if you enter the Medicare Part D ‘donut hole’ coverage gap – a discount that grows until the ‘donut hole’ is closed in 2020.  

•    You can no longer be dropped from coverage by your insurance company simply because you get sick.

•    Your insurance company can no longer place restrictive annual limits on your coverage – with annual limits completely eliminated by 2014.

•    If you are in a new plan, you now have free coverage of key preventive services, such as immunizations, mammograms, and other cancer screenings.

•    Your insurance company must now spend at least 80 percent of premiums on covering medical services – rather than administrative expenses, CEO pay, and profits. 

•    Your insurance company must now publish on the Internet detailed justifications for any premium increases they are seeking that are more than 10 percent.