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Health reform at home

Posted by: Ella Hushagen on Jul 31, 2009

Health reform will make a difference for you, your family, and your community. The New York Times wrote on Sunday that people with and without health coverage alike would benefit from health reform:

Many insured people need help almost as much as the uninsured. Premiums and out-of-pocket spending for health care have been rising far faster than wages. Millions of people are "underinsured" - their policies don't come close to covering their medical bills. Many postpone medical care or don't fill prescriptions because they can't afford to pay their share of the costs. And many declare personal bankruptcy because they are unable to pay big medical debts.

The editorial outlines the ways that health reform will increase security for people who already have insurance:

• Policies will be more reliable because the government will be a stronger watchdog of insurance companies. According to NYT, "for Americans who are never quite certain that their policies will come through for them when needed, that is very good news."

• People with good group coverage will have the security of knowing that if they lose their job, they can obtain coverage through the exchange without facing denial or a marked-up premium due to less-than-perfect health.

• Furthermore, employers will be required to provide benefits meeting specific standards, or pay a penalty to fund workers' coverage through the exchange. This will create greater stability for workers.

What's more, seniors with Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs over time. The House bill under consideration phases out the "doughnut hole" in Medicare drug coverage that forces seniors to pay 100% of their drug costs after the total exceeds $2,700 until they reach the catastrophic coverage level of $7,050.

Need more proof? The House Energy and Commerce Committee brings it home with local data in a series of fact sheets explaining how each Congressional District represented in the House of Representatives would be affected by passage of America's Affordable Health Choices Act. For example, in Tennessee's 6^th District, represented by Bart Gordon,

up to 14,300 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 5,200 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D; health care providers would receive payment for $85 million in uncompensated care each year; and 59,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

The Energy and Commerce Committee has key jurisdiction over the health reform bill, but some members have put the brakes on its enactment. Those members' communities stand to gain a lot. 

Check out what your community would gain through passage of America's Affordable Health Choices, and let your representative know that health reform is important for you and the community you live in.