On March 21, Congress passed a bill that expands health care coverage for Americans. The historical legislation was signed into law by President Obama on March 23rd and will allow over 30 million more Americans to access health care coverage.
Under President Obama’s administration, our country has taken steps to reform our health care system to insure more Americans, decrease the cost of health care, prioritize preventative medicine and prevent individuals with pre-existing health conditions from being excluded from health care coverage.
Reforming health care has been a priority for our country for over 20 years yet passing health care legislation has been challenging to say the least. The recently passed bill is certainly not ideal; however, it is an important beginning to moving toward equitable health care for all Americans.
An important facet of the legislation related to minority health is the inclusion of tools that will allow health care providers to address some racial and ethnic health disparities and to improve outcomes. Reducing differences in health outcomes based on race, gender and socioeconomic must remain a priority for our health care system.
Many of the changes in our health care system will take months or years to implement so many Americans are left wondering what will happen next. Of course, I cannot provide all of the details of the bill but here are some of the highlights (as outlined at www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform).
If you do not currently have health insurance- You will have access to new insurance choices in the same insurance marketplace where all members of Congress will buy their insurance, receive tax credits to help you afford coverage if needed, and get protections from insurance company abuses like denying you coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
If you have insurance through your job- You can keep your current plan and your premiums are not expected to increase due to health reform (premiums often increase yearly for other reasons). Health care reform is expected to decrease the cost of health care over the next decade. Nothing in the health reform bill will require you to change your coverage.
If you have Medicare- Your benefits will not be cut. Health reform protects Medicare. Medicare will be made more financially secure and seniors who hit the prescription drug “donut hole” will be protected from high costs for their medicines.
If you have Medicaid- Your coverage will not be affected. Some Americans who were not previously eligible for Medicaid may now be eligible because coverage has been expanded to insure individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Contact your local Medicaid office to see if you qualify.
If you own a small business- You won’t be required to provide health insurance to your employees, but if you choose to, new tax credits will make covering your employees more affordable. You will also have access to a new insurance exchange to find the best deal, and the entire process will be simpler.
If you purchase your own health insurance- You will have access to new insurance choices in the same insurance marketplace where all members of Congress will buy their insurance. Either way, there will be new protections from insurance company abuses, and tax credits will make coverage more affordable. Your costs are not expected to increase due to health reform.
Although the new health reform bill is lengthy and may seem confusing, don’t let this prevent you from learning how the changes will affect you personally. Visit www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform for more information. Above all, it’s important to remember that the changes in health care coverage are only a component of what’s necessary to improve individual health outcomes. The most important factor in your health outcomes is YOU. Take this time to REFORM YOUR OWN HEALTH!