October 5, 2010
	This publication is your opportunity to receive regular updates on the work and the issues that I have been involved with, both in Harrisburg and throughout our community. Please visit my Web site, www.senatorhughes.com, where you will find a comprehensive overview of our work, various phone numbers and contact information to assist you in solving problems, opportunities to volunteer and assist us in our programs and opportunities to give your feedback.

Health Care Reform Becomes Reality for Millions

When President Barack Obama signed the federal government’s health care reform package into law earlier this year, uninsured people across the country started to see light at the end of the tunnel.

In Pennsylvania alone: 143,451 people with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied coverage Tax credits for 904,000 people Tax cuts for 151,000 small businesses 15,100 families will be saved from bankruptcy in one year 1.3 million uninsured people will be insured

Now, some of the positives we have heard about for months have become a reality as provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have taken effect.

Covered until 26 years of age

The sections of the act that have taken effect will allow children to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until they turn 26 unless the children qualify for insurance through their employers. This will take an enormous burden off of our college students and recent graduates seeking employment. Before this law took effect, our children were saddled with making massive insurance payments to keep coverage.

Many of the young adults that will now receive coverage through their parents’ plans are either in entry-level jobs that do not provide insurance or seeking their first job and were unable to afford their own insurance.

Coverage even when there are pre-existing conditions

Another change mandates that insurance companies cannot deny coverage to children under 19 years old that have a pre-existing condition. Our children that have a health condition are the ones that need coverage the most and it was ludicrous to allow insurance companies to leave them out in the cold.

While Pennsylvania has always been a national leader in providing coverage for children, it was important to have this provision worked into the federal law. This provision alone will ensure that 143,451 Pennsylvanians will no longer be denied insurance coverage.

High-risk pool

Pennsylvania also received a federal grant to operate a health plan for a high-risk pool of uninsured adults. As I explained in my last On The Issues, Pennsylvania Fair Care is a temporary plan offering transitional insurance coverage until the broader coverage provisions of federal health insurance reform come to fruition in January 2014.

Insurance companies will no longer be able to drop coverage of patients who become ill. Dropping someone’s insurance that became ill was a heinous practice by insurers. Like denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, someone that becomes ill needs coverage and to allow insurers to drop their coverage was despicable.

Eliminate coverage caps

One last change that has been activated recently eliminates lifetime limits of coverage. This is especially important for our friends and neighbors that suffer from a devastating chronic illness. Even though the caps were high, extended periods of hospitalization and specialized treatments can cost an extraordinary amount of money. If the lifetime cap was not removed more of these suffering individuals would be forced to stop their treatment or file for bankruptcy just by trying to pay for their medical bills.

Options for older adults

Lastly, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging received $3.75 million in federal Affordable Care Act grants to help older adults, individuals with disabilities and caregivers better understand their health and long-term care options.

These grants will further the state's endeavors in Medicare outreach and assistance, nursing home transition, prevention of re-hospitalization, and maintaining and improving the health of older residents with chronic diseases.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of this historic health care reform. For more information on other provisions of the bill and when they will take effect, visit www.healthcare.gov and for information specific to Pennsylvania visit http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/benefitsofreform.

www.senatorhughes.com