Today ends my know-it-all days. For the past few months, after the passage of the new health care reform law, friends and family members have come to me as a source of information about what the new health care reform law means to them. Sure, I didn’t have all the answers, but I had the answers at my fingertips (also known as popping into the office of a more knowledgeable colleague). However, www.HealthCare.gov ends my reign as a health care know-it-all in at least one area. Now everyone can find out what their options are for insurance coverage.

This new website is the first of its kind and puts you one click away from consolidated information on all available insurance options: private insurance, public insurance options for people with low-income, as well as the new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans.

But that’s not the only thing that happens today. Thanks to our new health care reform law, Americans with a pre-existing condition, like my mom, can use www.HealthCare.gov to find out about the new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans that became available in many states. These temporary insurance plans are available to people who are uninsured due to a pre-existing condition, and they will provide some of the most vulnerable women and families the opportunity to obtain health coverage until 2014, when new health insurance rules take effect and the new insurance exchanges are up and running. In many states you can begin applying for coverage immediately. Some states are in the process of creating their own plans and they will be ready very shortly.

This is only the beginning. There are many more changes in store for us thanks to our new health care reform law. You can stay up-to-date on all the latest by checking out our Reform Matters project.

Cross-post from Womenstake