Republicans attempt to dismantle historic health care reform

With enactment of the historic Affordable Care Act (ACA), a major victory for the Obama administration and the 2010 Democratic Congress, the nation started on a path that will provide health care coverage for 32 million Americans who are currently without health insurance – something that is a fundamental human right to which all Americans are entitled.

Immediately after the first session of the 2011 Republican-controlled Congress, the new congress voted unsuccessful to repeal ACA and then introduced bills to dismantle portions of ACA. Repeal of the ACA would once again condemn these Americans to live – or die – without health care coverage.

At press time, the Senate was also expected to vote soon on one or more amendments to repeal all or portions of the ACA. Repeal of the law would also invite a return of the unfair and life-threatening practices of insurance companies which, until recently, had the power to decide what care customers could receive.

In addition, for years insurers have denied coverage to children, as well as adults, with pre-existing medical conditions. In cases where health plans have accepted children or adults with pre-existing conditions, they have excluded those conditions from being covered.

As of Sept. 23, 2010, a new provision in the ACA mandates that health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits or coverage for a child younger than age 19 simply because the child has a pre-existing condition such as asthma. (Effective January 2014, the rule will be extended to cover adults.)

The new rules apply to all employer-sponsored health plans and new individual policies. The vast majority of the uninsured children who will benefit are in families that buy policies on the individual market; most employer-sponsored plans cover people with pre-existing conditions, though they sometimes delay coverage of the conditions.

Some important details:

• The new rule does not apply to individual health insurance policies purchased on or before March 23, 2010.

• The rule applies whether or not the child’s disability was discovered or treated before applying for coverage.

It is important to note that at the request of the Department of Health and Human Services, many insurance companies that sell individual policies have voluntarily agreed to provide coverage to children age 19 and under, regardless of existing disabilities or conditions.

Wellmark, Aetna and many other health plans have agreed to voluntarily comply with the provisions of the ACA by providing coverage to children with pre-existing conditions under their individual policies.

It’s critical that we fight to maintain our health care victory.

Source: UAW Research and Social Security Department

For more information on what health care reform means for you and your family, please visit the consumer website maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services at healthcare.gov.