FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 22, 2010
Contact: Erikka Knuti (202) 603-4600; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
If You Know about Tomorrow’s Health Care Changes, You Might be the Only One
Washington, D.C. – Today the Health Information Center (HIC) urged the media to resist horserace distractions and report on the provisions of the new health care law taking effect tomorrow. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) only 14 percent of people know that the important Patient Bill of Rights provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect September 23.
“New provisions of the health care law start tomorrow, but the public doesn’t know about it,” said HIC President Andrew Grossman. “These benefits will immediately impact the everyday lives of tens of millions of Americans, and the public is looking to the media to ‘report the news.’ Starting tomorrow, people will no longer have to worry about losing their coverage or their financial security if they get sick.”
In addition to the lack of awareness of tomorrow’s health care landmark, confusion on the facts is still alarmingly widespread.
- More than a third of Americans still falsely believe the new health care law creates a “panel to make decisions about end-of-life care.” (Kaiser Family Foundation).
- When asked whether the Congressional Budget Office had ruled that the legislation would reduce the government's debt, or increase the debt; four out of five people answered incorrectly. In fact, the bill will reduce the deficit by $130 billion over 10 years, repealing it would increase the deficit by $455 million over 10 years. (AP-Stanford Poll).
- At least two-thirds of people given a true/false survey on the new health care law were uncertain about their responses on eight of nine core provisions of the legislation regardless of whether or not they answered correctly. (AP-Stanford Poll)
The public needs authoritative and fact-conscious journalists to clear the air. Opponents of health care reform spread myths about the bill that were then echoed by opinion journalists who blurred the line between facts and rhetoric. It is time for the news media to redraw that line.
President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in to law March 23. Tomorrow marks the six-month anniversary of the law, with the following provisions taking effect:
- No more getting dropped after you get sick
- No more denying kids with pre-existing conditions coverage
- No more “lifetime limits” on coverage
- Preventive care without deductibles or co-pays
- Expanded coverage to young adults under 26
The Health Information Center is a non-partisan non-profit c3 effort to educate the public about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and to address misinformation about the law. Earlier this month, it launched “America’s Fair Health Care” to provide resources and information about the law’s implementation.
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"Under new plans, no child under age 19 will be denied coverage for a pre-existing conditions, period. Adults who have been without insurance for six months and who have been unable to obtain insurance because of a pre-existing condition, can apply for coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)."
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Insurers can no longer cut someone after the fact.
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New screening procedures are now in place for health care providers to eliminate fraud and waste in the health care system.
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Medicare Part D enrollees who hit the Medicare prescription drug benefit gap in 2010 will automatically receive a $250 rebate check.
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Effective immediately, qualified small employers get tax credits of up to 35% of premiums for offering coverage.
Video
America's new health care law makes it easier for you to find the quality, affordable health care that you and your family need.
