Thursday, September 8, 2011

A taste of President Obama's health care reform and what it holds...for us.

I decided to show a small but important part of the law regarding President Obama's health care reform law and what it is since I suspect those complaining about it have NOT read it. Below are some of the facts;


About the New Law Relief for You Myths and Facts Healthcare News 50 States 50 Stories
The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in March 2010, gives you better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that hold insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more choice, and enhance the quality of care for all Americans.

SEE: How it works Starting Sept. 23, 2010 A bridge to 2014 Reducing Costs Progress
How it Works

The Act will not be implemented all at once. Portions of the law have already taken effect like provisions that implement a new Patient’s Bill of Rights that put an end to some of the worst insurance company practices.
The New Law

Ban Lifetime Limits
Bans Dropping Your Coverage When you Need It Most
Helps Cover Young Adults on Their Parent’s Plan
Prohibits Discriminating Against Children With Pre-Existing Conditions
Restricts the Use of Annual Limits

Before reform, cancer patients and individuals suffering from other serious and chronic diseases were often forced to limit or go without treatment because of an insurer’s lifetime limit on their coverage. Insurance companies can no longer put a lifetime limit on the amount of coverage enrollees receive, so families can live with the security of knowing that their coverage will be there when they need it most.

Up to
20,400
people who typically hit their lifetime limits will benefit from this provision.

Along with nearly
102 mil.
consumers who will no longer have a lifetime limit on their insurance policy.


Benefits Starting on September 23, 2010

If you purchase or join a new plan on or after September 23, 2010 insurance companies must:

Cover recommended preventive services without charging out of pocket costs: Services like mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, pre-natal and new baby care will be covered, and insurance companies will be prohibited from charging deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance.

Provide an opportunity to appeal coverage decisions: Consumers will be guaranteed the right to appeal insurance company decisions to an independent third party.

Guarantee enrollees their choice of primary care provider: Consumers will have their choice of provider within the plan’s network of doctors, including OB-GYNs and pediatricians, without a referral, as well as out-of-network emergency care.

These three provisions will benefit up to 88 million people by 2013.
A Bridge to 2014

Other changes including new benefits, protections and cost savings will be implemented between now and 2014.

The Affordable Care Act builds a bridge to 2014 when a new competitive insurance marketplace will be established. The new marketplace will include state-run health insurance exchanges where millions of Americans and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable coverage, and have the same choices of insurance as Members of Congress.
Reducing Costs

The Affordable Care Act will bring down costs, improve the quality of health care delivered to all Americans and expand coverage to 32 million Americans.

Independent experts have found that the new law helps reduce costs for families and businesses, cuts the deficit and strengthens Medicare, adding years to the trust fund while maintaining seniors guaranteed benefits.

The Congressional Budget Office, the government’s non-partisan scorekeeper, said the Affordable Care Act would save over $100 billion over the next ten years, and over $1 trillion in the following decade.
Progress

Many provisions in the Affordable Care Act are already being implemented, and other changes will be implemented through 2014 and beyond. The law is already strengthening our health care system. Provisions of the law that have already been implemented include:

Important consumer protections and a new Patient’s Bill of Rights that end some of the worst insurance company abuses.

New resources for states to help crack down on health insurance premium increases, protect consumers and develop health insurance exchanges where consumers will have the same health insurance choices as Members of Congress.

The establishment of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan to provide coverage to Americans who have been uninsured because of a pre-existing condition.

Launch of the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program to make it easier for businesses to provide coverage to retirees who are not eligible for Medicare.

Distribution of important information that will help small businesses claim the law’s small business tax credit.

Cost saving measures, including provisions that will make our system more efficient.

5 comments:

Dion said...

Okay, Obamacare is better than the status-quo we had, but without Universal/Single payer healthcare, we remain at the mercy of corporate insurance that will squeeze us dry. Ever get the feeling Obama puts the corporate interests before the citizen. Maybe he just can't tell the difference between the two.

Unknown said...

What is never discussed is how hard it is to move and get things done in Washington . Only recently have we seen more of what it takes and how much push back he faces. It is core and it is racist and it is damaging to us the citizens.

Unknown said...

You know, back in the '90's I was very fortunate, in that my insurance covered the cost of my daughter's premature birth at nearly 100%. She was in the hospital for nearly 2 months and our costs for delivery and Neonatal ICU care was over $250,000. Now, when I think of people who have little or no care, taking any step toward getting care for everyone is what's needed. Sometimes I think those who complain are expecting to pay out of their own pockets. And considering we're helping one another out, why would fight against a move in the right direction?

Dion said...

I agree, most everything moves at a snails pace in DC.

On the other hand, think about what has happened without delay. The bailout of the too big to fail banks in '08 was like Usain Bolt sprinting a 100 meter race. Speaking of the too big to fail banks, why didn't Obama recess appoint Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? The best get pushed aside to make way for the 'DC insiders'. It's maddening. I had hope. I believed in Obama. Not so much any more.

Something else that happened quickly in DC more recently was Obama axing ozone pollution standards recommended by the EPA. I don't know this Obama. He's nothing like the man I voted for.

Our ears will certainly catch plenty of the dog whistle racism that the Right-wing is known for. I doubt racism will effect the outcome of the 2012 election. More likely it will be the Left staying home that brings down Obama.

Diane said...

He is pushed against the wall and the republicans are putting self interest before the people. They are going against him at every turn to make him look bad regardless what their actions is doing to this country. No President hsd ever been disrespected by congress as much as he has. We have to see through the political bullshit and see what's really going on. He can't make a final decision with congress backing him up, he sometimes have to take what he can get at the moment. Bush fucked this country up and all the blame is falling on Obama. He's the same man you voted for, but white America wasn't really ready for a African American to lead the country. Yes, this is 2011 but some people are wearing invisible white shits pretending like they care about are country but dragging it dawn to spite a black man in power. Racism is ugly to the point of self-destruction...

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