Which of these benefits of the new Health Care Reform Law do republicans object to?

This year, children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance coverage. Once the new health insurance exchanges begin in the coming years, pre-existing condition discrimination will become a thing of the past for everyone.
* This year, health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
* This year, insurance companies will be banned from dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and they will be banned from implementing lifetime caps on coverage. This year, restrictive annual limits on coverage will be banned for certain plans. Under health insurance reform, Americans will be ensured access to the care they need.
* This year, adults who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
* In the next fiscal year, the bill increases funding for community health centers, so they can treat nearly double the number of patients over the next five years.
* This year, we'll also establish an independent commission to advise on how best to build the health care workforce and increase the number of nurses, doctors and other professionals to meet our country's needs. Going forward, we will provide $1.5 billion in funding to support the next generation of doctors, nurses and other primary care practitioners -- on top of a $500 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Health insurance reform will also curb some of the worst insurance industry practices and strengthen consumer protections:

* This year, this bill creates a new, independent appeals process that ensures consumers in new private plans have access to an effective process to appeal decisions made by their insurer.
* This year, discrimination based on salary will be outlawed. New group health plans will be prohibited from establishing any eligibility rules for health care coverage that discriminate in favor of higher-wage employees.
* Beginning this fiscal year, this bill provides funding to states to help establish offices of health insurance consumer assistance in order to help individuals in the process of filing complaints or appeals against insurance companies.
* Starting January 1, 2011, insurers in the individual and small group market will be required to spend 80 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Insurers in the large group market will be required to spend 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical services. Any insurers who don't meet those thresholds will be required to provide rebates to their policyholders.
* Starting in 2011, this bill helps states require insurance companies to submit justification for requested premium increases. Any company with excessive or unjustified premium increases may not be able to participate in the new health insurance exchanges.

Reform immediately begins to lower health care costs for American families and small businesses:

* This year, small businesses that choose to offer coverage will begin to receive tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help make employee coverage more affordable.
* This year, new private plans will be required to provide free preventive care: no co-payments and no deductibles for preventive services. And beginning January 1, 2011, Medicare will do the same.
* This year, this bill will provide help for early retirees by creating a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums for employers and retirees age 55-64.
* This year, this bill starts to close the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' by providing a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the gap in prescription drug coverage. And beginning in 2011, the bill institutes a 50% discount on prescription drugs in the 'donut hole.'

SCOTT M2010-03-24T11:43:17Z

Favorite Answer

I am particularly pleased with the ban on denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Millions of people have lost their jobs and their health care insurance. If they can afford to buy a private plan, which many cannot, they will be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. By the time someone reaches the age of 40, he or she probably has some such conditions, which are considered to be anything for which a patient has been diagnosed with or treated for.

Let’s be realistic: We are all going to pay for this change in our health care plans, but the cost will be small for each of us. It can be devastating for an individual. Most pre-existing conditions can be treated with prescription drugs and do not require surgery or other expensive remedies.

I am not comfortable with the government running our health care, but this is one issue I am very pleased about.

Anonymous2016-04-14T10:02:45Z

Well Nixon tried to get a national health insurance program back in 1972, he was blocked by a democratic majority congress. A democratic majority congress blocked Hillary Care in 1993, when they refused to send any bills out of committee. Democrats in the House, All voted against starting the SCHIP State Children's health insurance program in 1998. Democrats voted against giving senior citizens prescriptionn drug coverage in 2003 In fact, every major reform of health care since 1966, was done by republicans and in each case, democrats tried to block the reform. You have a president who holds a town hall meeting, to speak against misinformation about health care reform. Then he flat out lies and speaks about $50,000 dollar amputations, when they only cost $2,000 dollars. There are specific problems with health care that need to be fixed, but no one is trying to fix just the problems. 1. Uninsured people -- put them on medicare 2. Pre existiung conditions - pass a law saying insurance companies cannot bar anyone for pre existing conditions. 3. Cost - pass a law saying anyone can purchase any health insurance plan currently offered by any insurance company, at the same rate the Insurance company is charging for that plan now. IE: You can buy into the same plan large companies like Dell offer, or into the Blue Cross plans offered to State Government employees at the same price. B, Cost - for those who cannot afford insurance, either put them on medicare or subsadise thier health insurance purchase. Bingo, that solves the majopr issues without completely over hauling the entire system. As mush as they say, we are not trying to get a single payer sustem, they are indeed trying. They might not try and pass it in this bill, but they are making sure that they lay the ground work for such a system.

Anonymous2010-03-24T11:21:32Z

I think it's interesting that you've chosen to only highlight the selling points being pushed by Obama, et al. Sure, a lot of what you've listed sounds great. Here are the problems: 1. We can't afford it; 2. It is unconstitutional; 3. It is a bill thousands of pages long that so far no one claims to have read in its entirety; 4. It's a completely partisan effort (and don't tell me Democrats tried and Republicans refused, but that's absolutely untrue).

I take exception to the fact that you say "Republicans" are against this bill. Perhaps you should do more research - and not just on MSNBC or the white house website. Many, many people from all political persuasions are against this bill, including many who feel it doesn't do enough.

The Fed Up Matthew™2010-03-24T11:21:12Z

I object to all of them. If you want to tell a company how they can run a business that is fascism. I wouldn't object if the government paid disability and medical bills of people who truly need it but that should only be last resort and run on a state level.

El Tecolote2010-03-24T11:16:52Z

I object to the ones that are going to empty what's left of my bank account and force me to sell my travel trailer, which means I'll have to move into a tent.

I may have great health insurance, but I won't have a roof over my head.

Thanks for thinking of me, lib-loons!

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