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Confused about Health Care Reform? What does it mean for YOU?
Confused about health care reform? We can explain how your group will be impacted. To schedule a presentation, please contact Mari Lopez at (213) 369-9460 or
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Please see California Partnership's Timeline on Healthcare Implementation HERE.
Health Care Reform: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
What Does This Mean for California Families?
H.R. 3590, the Senate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, is one of the most historic and significant U.S. social program changes in decades. H.R. 3590 will reform our health care system by ensuring that more uninsured and under-insured individuals and families have access to affordable medical services and treatment.
Beyond providing affordable insurance coverage, health reform will be achieved by expanding Medicaid, placing new regulations private insurance practices, providing tax credits for small businesses to offer coverage, investment in infrastructure of health facilities and incentives for physicians to practice in medically underserved communities, and much more. Some of the new changes people can expect are:
• Expands Medicaid to individuals under age 65 which includes children, pregnant women, parents, and adults without children;
• Provides tax credits and cost sharing of coverage for all legal permanent residents;
• Guarantees access to affordable insurance plans through the creation of an exchange that includes essential health benefits;
• Provides subsidies to cover the costs of coverage to low-income individuals and families with premiums on average costing 2-3% of income for a family making $22,000 - $29,000;
• Provides tax credits to small businesses to provide affordable coverage to their employees;
• Regulations on private insurance industry practices including not allowing rejection of applicants on the basis of pre-existing conditions, raising premiums without justification, reporting the amount of premium dollars going to actual health services;
• Provides adult children to remain on their parents’ coverage until age 27;
• Closes Medicare doughnut hole;
• Increase health care workforce through scholarships and loan incentives, and investing in medically underserved communities.
Most provisions will be implemented by 2014. Insurance regulation, such as denial of children for pre-existing conditions, grants for Medically Underserved Communities and others will be implemented in the immediate.
House Passes Health Care Reform Bill!
After months of health care activism and advocacy in California, we have seen the House deliver on Health Care Reform. With 219 votes, the House passed the Senate Bill and the Reconciliation Bill vote is coming up next. We will soon see a final bill on President Obama's desk and with that, coverage for many millions of uninsured Americans.
10 Reasons to Pass Health Care Reform
The past few months have been upheaval after upheaval in the landscape of health care reform. A Republican Senator's election, and intense bickering amongst lawmakers have extended the original timeline for health care reform. Nevertheless, the feats that were accomplished were still astounding. A comprehensive overhaul of an entire system and industry is not an easy task. There are still parts we will work to fix as time goes by. However, the facts remain that this reform will now cover millions of uninsured Americans.
10. Will stop health care costs from being 20% of U.S.’s top GDP within 8 yrs.
9. Immediately imposes $8 billion in new fees and taxes on insurance and pharmaceutical corps (almost $80 bil. over 10 yrs.).
8. CO-OPs (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan) to be in every state, will operate as a non-profit, member-run insurer.
7. Adult children can remain on parent’s coverage until age 26, covering a large population of the young and uninsured.
6. Places new regulations on private insurance industry forcing better consumer-oriented services, transparency and eliminates their anti-trust protections.
5. Legal permanent resident immigrants who are at 100-400% FPL will be eligible for cost-sharing and premium credits.
4. $11 bil. over 5 years to Community Health Centers
3. Workforce development investment including scholarship and incentives for physician residents to work in rural and Medically Underserved Areas.
2. Medicaid expansion that will make low-income childless adults eligible for coverage subsidies.
1. Improved funding, services and overall care-delivery for the Native American population that includes building new clinics, recruitment and incentives for Native American health workers.
For More information, please contact Mari Lopez
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Updated: March 15, 2010
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