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8 Ways Health Care Reform Provides Security and Stability to Those with or without Coverage
This is the second in a two-part post based on an e-mail received from the David Axelrod at the White House regarding clarifying the Health Care Reform the President Obama is proposing.
We have broken the note up into 2 pieces for ease of reading, and this is the second of a 2 part update for your benefit. To learn more, we urge you to go directly to the White House Website for updates.
From: David Axelrod, The White House < info@messages.whitehouse.gov >
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Subject: Health Care Reform
Dear Friend,
This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the most important.
Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions.
As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do disagree, let’s disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that’s actually been proposed.”
So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.
Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.
Thanks,
David
David Axelrod 20
Senior Adviser to the President
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
Close of e-mail from David Axelrod.
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My closing thoughts:
Go to the source, and bypass the media or lobbyists information. To learn more about the President Obama’s recommendations or to receive updates, visit the White House website for more reality check information. There is so much garbage on the news it is difficult to understand such a highly politicized topic.
FYI – Health Care lobbies spend $1.4 million dollars per day on lobbying to Congress and the Senate. That is $511 million dollars a year! Do you think they are behind some of the dis-information or mis-information?
We had a house guest from Germany here recently who bought some medication here in the US. She said the cost of her medication was more than 3 times the cost in the US. In Germany she paid the equivalent of $50 USD for a 3-month supply, while in the US she pays $50 for a 1 month supply.
To Your Health and Happiness,
Christopher Lee May
