Health Care Bill: Top 14 Provisions That Take Effect Immediately
Harry Hope
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
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Harry