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Let’s clear the air about health insurance reform
Monday, 21 December 2009 00:00
Health reform is about YOU.
“…These aren’t small changes. These are big changes. They represent the most significant reform of our health care system since the passage of Medicare. They will save money. They will save families money. They will save businesses money. And they will save the government money. And they’re going to save lives…That’s why this reform has to pass on our watch.” – President Barack Obama, December 15, 2009
Health reform is about YOU.
Senators like Mark Begich have fought to make sure provisions that help all of us are included in the health reform bill, including the broad goals President Obama set out:
- Provide more stable and secure insurance to those who already have insurance.
- Bring down the sky-rocketing costs of health care without adding to our deficit.
- Offer more quality, affordable options for insurance for those who don’t have it.
In fact, both the House and Senate bills as they stand now achieve these goals. Plus there are numerous benefits for you that would go into effect immediately. Here are some of them:
- If you have a pre-existing condition, you can immediately begin accessing health insurance through high-risk pools.
- You can’t be dropped by your insurance company when you get sick.
- 80 – 85 percent of your premium will be spent on your medical care.
- You will have an appeals process available to you if you are ever denied a claim.
- You will have free access to preventative services.
- Children can stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they are 26.
- If you are an early retiree between the ages of 55 - 64 and your former employer still provides you health benefits, there will be a break on premiums for the employer – and for you.
If we don’t pass health reform though, not only will we be back to square one, we’ll be worse off. Your premiums will continue to rise. Your claims will continue to be denied. And you will still run the risk of getting sick and losing your health insurance.
However, by passing health reform, we are laying the foundation that will allow us to solve a large number of the glaring problems in the current health care industry and to continue making progress on other health care related issues.
So let’s stay strong and take this historic opportunity to pass health reform. We’ve done so much hard work to get the bill where it is now.
Will you write a letter to the editor to tell other Alaskans why you support health reform?
The stakes are too high not to pass health reform. Now let’s finish the job.
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