http://edlabor.house.gov/documents/111/pdf/publications...

TOP 14 PROVISIONS THAT TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY

1. BEGINS TO CLOSE THE MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE — Reduces the donut
hole by $500 and institutes a 50%
discount on brand-name drugs, effective January 1, 2010.

2. IMMEDIATE HELP FOR THE UNINSURED UNTIL EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE
(INTERIM HIGH-RISK POOL) — Creates a
temporary insurance program until the Exchange is available for
individuals who have been uninsured for several
months or have been denied a policy because of pre-existing
conditions.

3. BANS LIFETIME LIMITS ON COVERAGE—Prohibits health insurance
companies from placing lifetime caps on coverage.

4. ENDS RESCISSIONS—Prohibits insurers from nullifying or rescinding a
patient’s policy when they file a claim for
benefits, except in the case of fraud.

5. EXTENDS COVERAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE UP TO 27TH BIRTHDAY THROUGH
PARENTS’ INSURANCE— Requires health
plans to allow young people through age 26 to remain on their parents’
insurance policy, at the parents’ choice.

6. ELIMINATES COST-SHARING FOR PREVENTIVE SERVICES IN
MEDICARE—Eliminates co-payments for preventive
services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the
Medicare program.

7. IMPROVES HELP FOR LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES—Improves the
low-income protection programs in
Medicare to assure more individuals are able to access this vital
help.

8. PROVIDES NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS IN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE— Prohibits
Medicare Advantage plans from
charging enrollees higher cost-sharing for services in their private
plan than what is charged in traditional Medicare.

9. IMMEDIATE SUNSHINE ON PRICE GOUGING—Discourages excessive price
increases by insurance companies through
review and disclosure of insurance rate increases.

10. CONTINUITY FOR DISPLACED WORKERS—Allows Americans to keep their
COBRA coverage until the Exchange is in
place and they can access affordable coverage.

11. CREATES NEW, VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
PROGRAM—Creates a long-term care insurance
program to be financed by voluntary payroll deductions to provide
benefits to adults who become functionally disabled.

12. HELP FOR EARLY RETIREES—Creates a $10 billon fund to finance a
temporary reinsurance program to help offset the
costs of expensive health claims for employers that provide health
benefits for retirees age 55-64.

13. COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS—Increases funding for Community Health
Centers to allow for a doubling of the
number of patients seen by the centers over the next 5 years.

14. INCREASING NUMBER OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS — Provides new
investment in training programs to increase the
number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health
professionals.

PREPARED BY OFFICE OF SPEAKER PELOSI – OCTOBER 29, 2009

_________________________________________________________