Why Obamacare is good for America

[babylonsister]

Why Obamacare is good for America
More Coloradans will have access to health care, and small businesses will benefit. It's the right prescription.
Posted: 02/19/2012 01:00:00 AM MST

By Dede de Percindenverpost.com


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Indeed, small businesses have struggled for years with the double whammy of escalating health care premium costs and the inability to secure the better rates that large companies are able to negotiate. Now business owners with fewer than 25 workers may qualify for tax credits to help pay for employee health care benefits, thanks to Obamacare. These tax credits inspired some business owners to start offering health care coverage benefits for the first time and allowed other struggling entrepreneurs to continue offering benefits in a challenging economy.

Obamacare is starting to hold insurance companies accountable, controlling the runaway costs that prevent Coloradans from access to health care. For example, insurers must now justify premium rate hikes. Just last month, the Department of Health and Human Services found that a Pennsylvania insurance company's proposed rate increase of 12 percent was unjustified in relation to the benefits provided, and urged the insurer to rescind the rate, issue refunds or publicly explain their refusal to do so. While some states, including Colorado, were already regulating rate increases, before Obamacare there were no national limits on what insurers could charge as administrative costs. Now at least 80 cents of every dollar must be spent on actual medical care.

Families are getting direct relief from Obamacare as well. Essential preventive care is now considered a basic benefit for those with insurance and is available without co-pays or other cost-sharing because it keeps people healthier. Everyone qualifies for annual checkups. Children may receive immunizations; women can access mammograms, contraception and domestic violence screening; and men benefit from prostate screenings and colonoscopies.

The heartbreaking practice of excluding children from coverage based on even the most minor pre-existing condition is already over because of Obamacare. In 2014, adults will enjoy this protection as well. Young adults just starting in the work world often do not receive health insurance in entry-level jobs and make up 28 percent of the uninsured in Colorado. Now they can stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26.

Another 675,000 Coloradans are underinsured. Many have learned the hard way that their coverage is completely inadequate when diagnosed with a serious chronic illness like lupus or multiple sclerosis. With Obamacare, there is solace for those who find they are underinsured, too. Individuals who are denied needed treatment by their insurance companies will now have a guaranteed appeals process. Insurers will no longer be allowed to place lifetime or annual limits on how much they will pay out to cover claims on policies' covered benefits. Likewise, insurance companies no longer can cancel individual coverage for those who have been diagnosed with serious and expensive illnesses, a practice known as "recission."

more...

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_19983680

[Progressive dog]

1. At least half a loaf

This is a big step towards universal health care. Now we have to fight to make it better.

[lovemydog]

2. yesterday I spoke with someone far left

She asked how it has helped. I said millions more Americans have affordable coverage than before. Also, it ended denial of coverage based on a 'pre-existing condition'. We'd both like to see free health coverage for all. I hope electing more progressive democrats to Congress is a step in that direction.