As we've noted, health care reform is now happening. It is encouraging that some action has been taken, though not yet the single-payer system that we inevitably will need, despite the recalcitrance of most of the current GOP congressmembers whose goal has seemed to be to delay any action as much as possible, misinform Americans about what health reform is all about (remember Sarah Pallin's lies about "death panels"), and ensure that health insurance companies continue to make record profits without having to provide real coverage while letting 40 million Americans continue to go without the most basic health coverage.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) put out a very concise, short but helpful email description of the health care reform that passed this week and has been signed into law by President Obama. (Reconciliation on some amendments is still underway in the Senate.) Here are some useful bullet points derived from her letter:
Immediately
o small business (10 or fewer employees for full credit; up to 25 employees for partial credit) assistance to help pay for employee health insurance--a credit for 35% of the premiums paid (eventually will be 50%)
o investment in community health centers ($11 billion over 5 years)
o assistance with $250 rebate for seniors caught by prescription medicine "doughnut hole" lack of coverage.
In 3 months:
o special fund for people with pre-existing conditions (covers gap til exchanges are functioning)
o federal reinsurance for retiree health plans covering early retirees (age 55-64) to bring down costs for businesses and lower premiums.
In 6 Months:
o prohibition against denying coverage/care to children because of preexisting conditions (applicable to everyone once exchanges are functioning)
o requirement to cover children on parents' insurance til age 26
o requirement that new health plans provide free preventive care with no co-pays or deductibles.
o prohibition against cancelling coverage when patient reaches lifetime coverage limit
o prohibition against cancelling coverage when patients get sick or file "too many" claims
o requirement to permit appeals of insurance company denials of coverage
o requirement that new plans let customers pick their primary care doctor, women visit ob-gyn without permission, and al have access to emergency care
On January 1, 2011...
o Seniors in Medicare can get a free annual wellness checkup with their doctor (no copays or deductibles)
o Insurance plans must spend 80-85% of revenues on medical care (with rebates required to customers if they spend too much on wasteful overhead)
(based on Stabenow release; for regular updates, see http://stabenow.senate.gov/healthcare)
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