HealthCareForAmericaNow - California

There’s been a lot of talk about the new health care law. And a lot of misinformation.

Here’s what the new will do:

• Stop the abuses of big insurance, like denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
• Give you the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll have good health coverage you can afford, even if you want to retire early, start a small business or you lose your job.
• Give members of Congress the same choices in coverage as tens of millions of Americans.
• Make health coverage more affordable for seniors on Medicare and small businesses.

The benefits of the new law start in 2010. Highlights include:

• Insurance companies will not be able to deny children coverage for pre-existing conditions or cancel coverage because a person has been treated in the past.
• The Medicare prescription drug donut hole will be reduced; seniors who fall into the donut hole will get $250 back.
• Children will be able to stay on their parent’s health coverage until they turn 26.
• Small businesses will get a 35% tax credit to help pay for their employees’ coverage.

Those who advocate repeal this year need to explain to the people and businesses that will have these specific benefits why they want to take them away.

In 2014, when the law if fully in place:

• Insurance companies won’t be able to deny anyone coverage for pre-existing coverage or place limits on annual or lifetime payments for covered benefits.
• People who don’t get health coverage at work will choose among health insurance plans in a new marketplace. The amount that a person will pay will be based on their income, on a sliding scale, so coverage will be affordable.
• Members of Congress will get the same choices of coverage as other people in the new marketplace.
• The Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” will continue to shrink until it is totally eliminated, helping millions of seniors with lower drug costs.

Members of Congress who voted for reform stood up against the insurance companies, their misleading ads, 1,700 lobbyists and campaign cash and voted to take our side.

It’s time to move beyond political games and fully realize the promise of reform - quality, affordable health care for all.