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Health Care Bill

Health Care Bill

The most sweeping health care insurance legislation in decades, a goal for many in the Congress since they began their political lives (and a lifelong goal of Senator Ted Kennedy who died in 2009), was achieved in early 2010. The Affordable Health Care for America Act passed the House 219-212 late on Sunday evening, March 21, 2010 and went to President Obama for his signature.

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About Health Care Bill

Critics from the right have called the bill 'socialist' while critics from the left were displeased that the bill fell short of universal, single-payer coverage.

The bill extends coverage for 32 million uninsured Americans and changes the way that Americans will buy health care insurance. Though the uninsured will benefit the most, all Americans will benefit from new restrictions on health insurance companies, who may no longer cut someone's insurance when they get sick. In addition, beginning in 2014, no person may be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

The New York Times quoted Bill Vaughan at Consumers Union: We think it’s a big step forward. It’s going to provide a peace of mind that many Americans who really want or need health insurance will always be able to get a quality product at a reasonable price regardless of their health or financial situation.

Affluent families will be required to pay some additional taxes and most Americans will now be required to have health insurance coverage or pay a fine. Those who cannot afford to buy insurance will get help from the government.

Benefits to consumers that kicked in within six months of the bill's signing include:

* Most plans will be prohibited from placing lifetime limits on medical coverage
* Policies cannot be cancelled on people who get sick.
* Children with pre-existing conditions could not be denied coverage
* Dependent children up to age 26 will be able to be covered under their parents' plans, vs. cutting off coverage at age 18 or 19.
* Within three months, people who have been locked out of insurance coverage because of pre-existing coverage will be able to get subsidized coverage through a new insurance exchanges.

By 2013, families with annual incomes above $250,000 will have to pay an additional 3.8 percent tax on their investiment income, and to contribute more to the Medicare program tax. The most expensive helth plans, sometimes called 'cadillac plans' will be taxed as well.

By 2014 employers with 50 or more employees could be fined for not providing insurance coverage. Also beginning in 2014, people with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied insurance, all lifetime and annual limits on coverage would be eliminated and new policies would be required to meet higher benefit standards.

The Congressional Buget Office has established that these new taxes and other benefits of the HCR bill will actually reduce the national deficit in later years.

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Health Care Bill