We did it! On March 23, 2010 President Obama signed an expansive health reform bill into law. This means that families can get what they need: affordable, reliable health coverage that won't disappear if they lose a job or get sick.
You made a difference – you are Superheroes! You used your voices to stand up for the well-being of children and families to ensure healthier lives for millions in the future. Here are some photos of MomsRising members in action:
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Now that the bill has passed, our task turns to getting all eligible kids signed up for health coverage now and making sure folks understand how health reform will affect their families.
MomsRising Special Mission: Make sure all kids in your community have access to health care.
Many families do not know that their children* may be eligible for free or low cost healthcare coverage*. Thanks to the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, we can start to cover uninsured children right now. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and start working to make sure that health reform works for the millions of families who will be expecting results from the passage of the new law. Especially during this recession, it is critical that we pass along this important information on how to get coverage to all families in our communities.
Join us now to spread the word in your community about free and low cost health coverage for kids.
http://www.momsrising.org/page/mission-totally-possible-getting-healthcare-coverage-kids-your-community.
Understanding health reform:
Many people are wondering how the bill will affect their families. To help you understand some of the great changes that are coming up, MomsRising went to the source and asked Senators how health reform will impact moms and kids. Check out these great videos of Senators personally responding to questions from MomsRising members: http://www.momsrising.org/senators-answers-your-hcr-questions
Below is a summary of the highlights of the new legislation.
*What are some healthcare highlights for children and families?*
This Year - The following is a short list of key, important changes that will happen this year due to the passage of healthcare reform http://action.momsrising.org/go/how/48?akid=1835.1647384.X5BqM6&t=3: [1]*
- Insurance companies will no longer be able to refuse to pay for treatment of children's pre-existing conditions.
- Health care plans will allow young people to remain on their parents' insurance policy up until their 26th birthday.
- 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.
- People who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions will have access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool.
- 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.
2014 - The following is a short list of key, important changes that will happen in 2014 due to the passage of healthcare reform http://action.momsrising.org/go/how/48?akid=1835.1647384.X5BqM6&t=4: [2]*
- Insurance companies will be banned from denying health insurance coverage to people of all ages because of pre-existing conditions.
- Families and children with moderate incomes (up to about $88,000 for a family of four) will be able to get help paying for health insurance coverage.
- State insurance exchanges will enforce minimum benefit standards for health insurance coverage.**
**Want more detailed information about what’s in the healthcare bill? Go here:
http://action.momsrising.org/cms/sign/how-will-healthcare-reform-affect-my-family*
*Want to know more about when each part of the law takes effect? Click here to see a timeline of key health reform dates for children and families.
And you can check out our blog for new information and updates about health reform: LINK
*Have friends who are confused about what healthcare reform means for their families too? Click here to see our great resource page that can easily be shared with friends (or you can just forward this email around far & wide): http://action.momsrising.org/cms/sign/how-will-healthcare-reform-affect-my-family
Fighting for Kids’ Coverage in California
Over a million kids in California are in danger of losing their healthcare coverage due to recent cuts to the California budget. As one of the most populous states in the nation and a key trendsetter in public policy, we are working hard to fight to maintain and expand kids’ coverage in California. To find out more, click here.
FOOTNOTES
Big thank you to our policy partners at Families USA for their help with this message and all their great work on behalf of America's families.
[1,2]:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/what-health-bill-means-for-you/
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/21/us/health-care-reform.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/03/23/whats-health-care-bill
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