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As new provisions of the landmark Affordable Care Act go into effect, many Americans have questions about the law and how it will affect their families. MomsRising has mobilized a talented group of leaders, parents, activists, workers, and policy analysts (many of whom wear multiple hats) to blog on these new benefits.  Check it out:

  • HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius writes

“In the six months since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, we have been hard at work implementing the law and focusing on putting consumers ahead of insurance companies… We still have a long way to go until 2014, when the new health insurance Exchanges are in place and additional provisions get us closer to all Americans having access to affordable, quality health insurance.  But we are making big steps in the right direction, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”

Read more: Six Months of the Affordable Care Act: Real rights, real protections, real benefits for real people

  • Rep. John Larson details major benefits in effect now:

“Major new health reform benefits take effect today to help keep health insurance companies accountable, lower health care costs, guarantee more health care choices, and enhance the quality of health care for all Americans.”

Read more: 10 Major New Health Reform Benefits Take Effect Today

  • Dora Calott Wang, MD, discusses how women will play a large role in the implementation of health reform:

“As mothers, daughters, wives and leaders of households, women often steer the health care choices of families. Thus in the coming years, women will also be a major force toward implementing health care reform and the landmark Affordable Care Act. Whenever we enroll a child into newly available health insurance, whenever we convince parents to get mammograms or colonoscopies that will be free under Medicare in 2011, each time we appeal an insurance company’s denial of care, or when we choose health insurance in new marketplaces beginning in 2014 — we will be helping to shape the future of health care in America. In fact, much of the ACA depends upon the actions and choices of patients, with women often taking the lead.”

Read more: Women Will Steer the Fate of Health Reform

  • Stephanie Drahan and Thao Nguyen of the National Women’s Law Center write about new changes:

“September 22, 2010: You get sick. You go to the doctor. You get diagnosed. Your insurance company drops your coverage when you need it the most. You now find yourself fighting your illness and the insurance company.  September 23, 2010: You get sick. You go to the doctor. You get diagnosed. You worry about fighting your illness and your insurance company pays for your care, just like it should.  Let me be clear – a miracle has not happened. What has happened is simply that the law now finally works for you.”

Read more: Putting the Law on Your Side: Six Month Health Care Law Anniversary

For more great blog posts about health care reform, check out our health care blog carnival here


The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.

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