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Classy Act Fails, It's Spirit Lives On

As of October 2011, the Class Act, a long term insurance for the elderly has ended. The Class Act had been part of the Obama Affordable Health Care Bill. The death of this portion will have no bearing on the rest of the bill as this is a seperate provision. This act would have assisted in the care of the elderly at home or in nursing homes to be paid for by premiums. The CBO estimated the benefits to this program could have ranged up to 86 billion. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, was unable to construct a 75 year legal solvency of the program which was required under the Affordable Healthcare Act. Hearings addressing the regulatory solvency on this health care provision will continue.

 

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PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT

 A Brief Editorial comment  Contact:  Barbara Tucker   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Republicans are at it again!

The party of “no” is now into repeal-reject-retire . . . whatever . . .one of the most caring pieces of legislation passed in the last several decades.Freedoms are what protection is all about.  And, the new Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act passed during the 111th Congressional session, clearly speaks to protection - - - or caring  . . . for all of us.

For too long, insurance companies have taken advantage of U.S. residents of most ages and income levels.  The new Patient’s Bill of Rights protects against insurance cancellation or loss and against dramatic premium increases.  Further, the cold denial of insurance coverage based on pre-existing conditions is stopped.

The antis continually carry on about deficit reduction.  Well ---  so much for phony outrage:  the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released the following problems with repeal of the bill:

- adding $230 billion to the deficit in the 1st 10 years and more than a trillion dollars ten years later;

- re-adding 26 million to the rolls of the uninsured;

- forcing those seeking coverage to pay more to get less;

- re-opening the donut hole for seniors and those seniors to be denied certain preventative care treatments.

The United States has been proud of its heritage of moving forward.  Where would be without it.?

It’s finally time to tell the party of no . . NO!  For additional recent changes to this law see Focus on Health Reform.

New Patient's Bill of Rights

“Starting in September, some of the worst abuses will be banned forever. No more discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions. No more retroactively dropping somebody’s policy when they get sick if they made an unintentional mistake on an application. No more lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on coverage. Those days are over.” – PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

President Obama announced a Patient’s Bill of Rights made possible under health reform—a basic set of consumer protections that end some of the health insurance companies’ worst abuses.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights:

  • 1. Prevents insurance companies from canceling your policy if you get sick. Right now, insurance companies can retroactively cancel your policy when you become sick if you or your employer made an unintentional mistake on your paperwork.
  • 2. Stops insurance companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Beginning in September, discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions will be banned—a protection that will be extended to all Americans in 2014.
  • 3. Prohibits setting lifetime limits on insurance policies issued or renewed after Sept. 23, 2010. No longer will insurance companies be able to take away coverage at the very moment when patients need it most. More than 100 million Americans have health coverage that imposes lifetime limits on care.
  • 4. Phases out annual dollar limits on coverage over the next three years. Even more aggressive than lifetime limits are annual dollar limits on what an insurance company will pay for your health care. For the people with medical costs that hit these limits, the consequences can be devastating.
  • 5. Allows you to designate any available participating primary care doctor as your provider. You’ll be able to keep the primary care doctor or pediatrician you choose, and see an OB-GYN without referral.
  • 6. Removes insurance company barriers to receiving emergency care and prevents them from charging you more because you’re out of network. You’ll be able to get emergency care at a hospital outside of your plan’s network without facing higher co-pays or deductibles or having to fight to get approval first.

The Patient’s Bill of Rights starts to take effect this fall—but the benefits for individuals and families under health care reform don’t stop there. Over the course of the next several years, the historic health reform law will make care more affordable, hold insurers accountable, and finally give all Americans the coverage they deserve.

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