The White House Responds to Critics of Health Care Reform
September 24 2010
As you probably know, the set of provisions in the Affordable Care Act that were implemented in yesterday have already started to make health care a reality for more Americans. But already, there is a movement afoot to repeal parts of the bill.
Yesterday, Stephanie Cutter of the White House officially responded to the critics of health care reform:
Today is the six month anniversary of the new health reform law – the Affordable Care Act. The law is already having a real and meaningful impact in providing Americans with better coverage and lower costs. Today is also the day that the new law’s critical patient protections – the Patient’s Bill of Rights – takes effect, and the President met with Americans from all over the country yesterday who are already benefiting from these protections. Earlier this week, North Carolina Blue Cross Blue Shield announced that it would voluntarily provide more than $155 million in rebates to consumers as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Just today, we learned that WellPoint will return $20 million to consumers in Colorado as a result of the new law’s efforts to control unreasonable premium increases.
However, just as we’ve started to hold insurance companies accountable, a new Congressional Republican agenda wants to put them back in charge.
Repeal of the Affordable Care Act has real consequences for the American people and small businesses. The House Republican agenda claims to protect people with preexisting conditions, but it repeals the new law’s ban on discriminating against uninsured Americans, including children, who have a preexisting condition. It will raise taxes by more than $40 billion on up to 4 million small businesses that provide health benefits to their employees. It will result in premium increases by eliminating the billions of dollars in cost savings measures, and will increase the deficit by more than $1 trillion dollars. It will mean that seniors will pay more for their prescription drugs, and their new free preventive Medicare benefits will be cut. And, it will mean that millions of Americans will have to give up their new Patient's Bill of Rights protections, from the 21 year old now getting covered on his or her parents' plan to the woman getting the preventive care she needs to prevent breast cancer and the individual who has lost his right to appeal an insurance companies' decision to an independent 3rd party.
Read the full post here.
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"Under new plans, no child under age 19 will be denied coverage for a pre-existing conditions, period. Adults who have been without insurance for six months and who have been unable to obtain insurance because of a pre-existing condition, can apply for coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)."
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Insurers can no longer cut someone after the fact.
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New screening procedures are now in place for health care providers to eliminate fraud and waste in the health care system.
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Medicare Part D enrollees who hit the Medicare prescription drug benefit gap in 2010 will automatically receive a $250 rebate check.
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Effective immediately, qualified small employers get tax credits of up to 35% of premiums for offering coverage.
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America's new health care law makes it easier for you to find the quality, affordable health care that you and your family need.
