Congressman Carson: The Benefits from Health Care Begin Now
INDIANAPOLIS - After joining President Barack Obama at the White House bill signing ceremony for health-care reform, Congressman André Carson lauded the immediate positive impact of the landmark new law, which went into effect today with the President's signature.
"The benefits of health-care reform begin now," Congressman Carson said. "From tax credits aimed at making coverage more affordable for small businesses to a $250 rebate for our seniors to help pay for prescription drugs, there are a number of positive changes that take effect immediately with even more to come in the weeks and months ahead."
The Timeline for Benefits
BENEFIT | HELP FOR... | WHAT THIS MEANS FOR AMERICANS |
Effective Upon Enactment | ||
Small Business Tax Credits | Small Businesses | Provides tax credits to small businesses to make employee coverage more affordable. Tax credits of up to 35% of premiums will be immediately available to firms that choose to offer coverage. (Beginning in 2014, the small business tax credits will cover 50 percent of premiums.) |
Closing Medicare Part D "Donut Hole" | Seniors | Provides a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the "donut hole" in 2010. (Beginning in 2011, institutes a 50% discount on brand?name drugs in the donut hole; also completely closes the donut hole by 2020.) |
Effective 90 Days After Enactment | ||
Immediate Help For The Uninsured Until Exchange Is Available | Families | Provides immediate access to insurance for Americans who are uninsured because of a pre?existing condition - through a temporary high?risk pool. |
Effective 6 Months After Enactment | ||
No Discrimination Against Children With Pre?Existing Conditions | Young Americans | Prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children with pre?existing conditions. (Beginning in 2014, this prohibition would apply to all persons.) |
Extends Coverage For Young People Up To 26th Birthday Through Parents' Insurance | Young Americans | Requires health plans to allow young people up to their 26th birthday to remain on their parents' insurance policy, at the parents' choice. |
Ends Rescissions | Families | Bans health plans from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. |
Bans Lifetime Limits On Coverage | Families | Prohibits health plans from placing lifetime caps on coverage. |
Bans Restrictive Annual Limits On Coverage | Families | Tightly restricts new plans' use of annual limits to ensure access to needed care. These tight restrictions will be defined by HHS. (Beginning in 2014, the use of any annual limits would be prohibited for all plans.) |
Effective Beginning January 1, 2011 | ||
Free Preventive Care Under Medicare | Seniors | Eliminates co?payments for preventive services and exempts preventive services from deductibles under the Medicare program. |
Ensuring Value For Premium Payments | Families | Requires plans in the individual and small group market to spend 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, and plans in the large group market to spend 85%. Insurers that do not meet these thresholds must provide rebates to policyholders. |
Source: Office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
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