Early Benefits of Reform

07 July 2010

Pro-Active Messaging on Reform:

public will feel benefits of reform over the next few months

• With passage of the health reform bill, our nation has taken a major step forward in improving the quality and affordability of health care for all Americans, of all ages, and all incomes—but especially hardworking middle class families.
• While many more reforms will be implemented over the next four years, Americans will begin to feel some of the benefits within the next few months including:
  • This year we will start offering tax credits to about 4 million small business owners to help them cover the cost of insurance for their employees;
  • This year insurance companies will not be able to place lifetime limits or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care you can receive;
  • This year insurance companies will not be able to drop your coverage if you get sick;
  • This year our children will stay covered on our policies until they're 26;
  • This year tens of thousands of Americans with pre-existing conditions and the parents of children who have a pre-existing condition will be able to purchase coverage;
  • This year seniors, our parents, will be paying less for their prescriptions;
  • This year all new insurance plans and those with Medicare coverage will be required to offer free preventive care.

• As additional reforms are implemented, we'll have a greater sense of security and stability knowing we can always keep our coverage, that our premium costs will be contained, and that increased competition will bring prices down.

Response to Attacks on Health Reform

Attack
"This law is a dangerous and budget-busting intrusion into the private health-care system—it is a government takeover of our health care."

Response
"This legislation creates competition in the insurance marketplace. We know that competition brings prices down, provides more affordable choices and opportunities —hardly the ingredients for a government takeover of anything. Those who are claiming a government takeover have put the concerns and profits of the insurance industry above the interests of hardworking Americans. What we want, and what this legislation provides, are stability, security, and competition. We can keep our coverage but know that we won't be getting constant premium increases; or we can lose our job and not our health care; or our kids can be covered until they turn 26 years old. And small business owners have more affordable options to cover their employees—and more funds to reinvest in their companies."