Helpful Health Care Links - Learn about the Health Care Final Bill Here
Illinois High-Risk insurance pools are now open for applications. Click here to learn more about the IPXP program and how to apply.
The Bill
On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, which will provide health insurance to 32 million Americans, including nearly 70,000 in the 5th District. Two key provisions go into effect within 6 months of the bill passing: dependents can stay on their parents' insurance plans until they are 26 and seniors who fall within the prescription drug "doughnut hole"will receive a $250 rebate. To see other immediate impacts click here. Over the next four years, other benefits will include the creation of insurance exchanges that will offer patients choice and competition when purchasing insurance plans.
Security
One of the most important initiatives of this bill is to provide security for middle class families, who will no longer have to worry about soaring prices or health coverage yanked out from under them. In March, Illinois insurance companies filed paperwork to raise individual base rate premiums by as much as 60 percent. Thanks to this bill, families never again have to worry about such bullying. Health insurance reform will put an end to discrimination against women and those with preexisting conditions and no patients will ever again be dropped by their insurance companies when they need medical care the most.
Now, losing your job doesn't mean losing your health insurance and the peace of mind that you can take care of yourself and your family. Reform caps out-of-pocket expenses so no one will ever go bankrupt paying for life-saving medicine, but it also removes the cap limiting lifetime health insurance benefits, which means sick and injured residents of the 5th District will now always have the care they need.
Transparency
Over the course of the year-long process that led to the passage of this bill, nearly 200 bipartisan hearings were held. On Capitol Hill, at the White House, and around the country the voices and opinions of health experts, constituents and lawmakers were heard and many were incorporated in the final legislation. Further, the House rejected the use of the legislative procedure known as the "deem and pass," and instead gave the American people the up and down vote they deserved on final passage. For a by-the-numbers look at the thoroughness of the health care debate, click here.
Cost
The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects the final health care bill will cut the United States' deficit by $138 billion in the first ten years (2010-2019) and then by $1.2 trillion in its second ten years. By rooting out waste in Medicare and streamlining how medicine is practiced and delivered we can provide better care at lower costs. For a summary of the CBO score click here, and for the full report click here.
Links
Detailed three-page summary of the bill