The new health care reform law, called the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act was enacted into law in late March. The Federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Community Health are working right now to implement this new law.

This new law makes a number of changes that will benefit individuals, families, business and the ability of the economy to expand and create new jobs. Some of the new changes are:

• Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage if you have a pre-existing condition.
• Insurance companies cannot drop your coverage when you get sick.
• Insurance companies cannot charge you significantly higher premiums based on your health status or gender.
• Young adults from 18 to 26 years old, can stay on their parent's health insurance policy until age 26.
• Seniors get help with the high cost of prescription drugs by eliminating the "donut hole" in Medicare Part D.
• Middle class families get financial help to help pay for private sector health insurance.
• Medicaid is expanded to provide health coverage to more lower income families.
• A more competitive health insurance market place is created with the establishment of the "exchanges" where insurance companies must list their policies in normal English so people and business can compare price and benefits.
• Small business receive a tax credit equal to 35% of the premiums to help provide insurance to their employees.

Click here to get a complete understanding of the new law.

And if you want to learn how many people and business benefit from this new law (broken down by Congressional District) click here.

Some of the benefits of the new law begin this year. Checks of $250 will be sent to seniors on June 11, who are in the "donut hole" of Medicare Part D and are therefore paying the full cost of their prescription medicine. This $250 check is the first step in helping seniors with the high cost of medicine. In 2011, 50% of the cost of drugs will be fully paid for by Medicare and by 2020 the "donut hole" will be fully eliminated.

Although the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act is now law, it is critical that it be properly implemented at the State and Federal level. Opponents of health care reform are still working to stop reform by attempting to influence how the bill is implemented. I would encourage all health care reform advocates to stay involved and for any other concerned individuals to sign up and get involved to make sure that families and business receive all the intended benefits of this new law. 

If you have any questions feel free to contact me at Jfreeman13@comcast .net.