Our nation's experts answer MomsRising members' questions about health reform!

We received lots of great questions from our members across the nation asking about how health reform will impact children, moms, dads, and families; so we resolved to get the answers from our country's experts.

Want the lowdown on healthcare reform and how it impacts you directly from the source? Check out these videos of Secretary Sebelius and members of Congress answering questions from MomsRising members.

* Click on the pictures below to watch each video


	Secretary Sebelius discusses the Affordable Care Act and how it provides more access to treatment and preventive services for all Americans, especially women and families, with National Campaign Director at MomsRising Donna Norton, and actress and women's health advocate Fran Drescher.
	Senator Tom Udall answers questions from MomsRising members about how: • To take advantage of new provisions to allow young adults of up to age 26 to stay on their parents insurance policies, and • Health reform will control costs of insurance.
	Senator Jeff Merkley answers questions from MomsRising members about: • New legislation passed in health reform to facilitate breastfeeding in the workplace, and • What incentives there are in health reform to prevent diseases before they start.
	Senator Robert Menendez answers questions from MomsRising members about how health reform helps: • People who have expensive and poor coverage through their employers, • Moms with postpartum depression and other mental health issues, and • Children with special needs

Do your friends a favor! Research shows that many people are unsure about how healthcare reform will help their families. You can take a second now to share all this great info with friends and family by clicking here.

Didn't find the answer to your question about health reform yet?

The Department of Health and Human Services is launching a cool website that helps consumers to research and compare insurance plans, and determine their eligibility for public programs like Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and pre-existing condition insurance plans. Check it out here: www.healthcare.gov

Have a question of your own to submit?

Submit your question in the box at top right and our fabulous partners at Families USA will pick a question each week to answer and post for all of us to learn from. (Don't worry, we won't share your name, only the city and state where you live.)

MomsRising resource page

Families USA Health Reform Central

Share your story on how health insurance reform is helping your family.

Question of the Week: Answer from Families USA

Question:

I cannot afford health insurance. What options are available under health reform and what will it take to qualify?

Health reform makes health care more accessible and affordable for everyone. Here are some of the options for affordable coverage under health reform, along with information about where you can find out if you’re eligible. (Note that many of these options do not take effect until 2014, but new information sources for existing options are available now).

1. Medicaid: You may be eligible for Medicaid depending on your income and family size. Medicaid provides health coverage for low-income children and adults and people with disabilities, and it also provides assistance with health and long-term care expenses for low-income seniors. Currently, Medicaid eligibility varies from state to state. However, beginning in 2014, health reform will expand Medicaid eligibility levels to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or $29,327 for a family of four (according to the current poverty guidelines). This means that many more people will be eligible for Medicaid.

2. Premium Subsidies: If you don’t qualify for Medicaid, but you still can’t afford coverage, you may be eligible for help with your premium. Starting in 2014, individuals and families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or $88,200 for a family of four in 2010, will get help paying their health insurance premiums in the form of tax credit subsidies.

3. Cost-Sharing and Out-of-Pocket Help: In addition to providing help with premiums, health reform also includes ways to make out-of-pocket costs, like deductibles and copayments, more affordable. Beginning in 2014, plans for individuals and small employers will have new caps that limit how much enrollees have to spend each year out of their own pockets to get care. And, individuals and families with lower incomes will be protected with even lower out-of-pocket spending caps. Depending on your income, you or your family may also qualify for additional help paying copayments, co-insurance, and deductibles.

Next Step – Visit HealthCare.gov
To find out about health coverage options available to you both now and in 2014, visit HealthCare.gov. This new web portal will provide you with information about health coverage options in your state, including private insurance, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, plans for individuals with pre-existing conditions, and coverage for small businesses.