What’s Happening With Health Care Reform?

Do you know what is in the new health care reform law? If not, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent tracking poll performed by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that 4 in 10 Americans are confused over the new health care reform law, and just over one-third say they don't understand how the law will affect them personally.

Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization has put together a list of ways that the health care reform law will help the citizens of Kansas and Missouri.

Through the new law, insurers will no longer be able to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition or drop your coverage when you get sick. And, insurance companies will no longer be able to charge higher premiums based on your gender or health status.

For those without health insurance, you will be able to gain coverage through a competitive marketplace called an “exchange.” It is believed that through the competitive process, exchanges will drive down costs, guarantee choice and put the consumer in control.
For those who get your health insurance through your employer or who purchase separately, you will also be helped by the new law. You might qualify for help with your insurance premium. Those with moderate incomes (say for example, a family of four with a household income of $88,000), who have private health insurance, may qualify for help.

The health care reform will set limits on how much families will have to spend on health care out of their own pockets (on copayments, deductibles, etc.). Seniors and people with disabilities who are on Medicare will no longer have to pay for preventive services, and many will have more help paying for prescriptions. In Kansas that is 416,000 people; in Missouri, it is 961,000.

How much will this cost? Well, some experts estimate that the health care reform will reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion in the next 10 years and will save $1.2 trillion more in the following 2 decades.

As a health care consumer, it is in your best interest to find out how the health care reform law will affect you. Some resources for more information are:

• Families USA, a national health care advocacy organization at familiesusa.org
• Kaiser Family Foundation, a national nonprofit foundation focusing on health care issues, at www.kaiserhealthnews.org
• US Department of Health and Human Services site on the health care reform at healthreform.gov 

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