InsuranceThought — Blogs About Insurance

Let’s take a look at what the newly passed healthcare reform will mean to you as an individual.

If you have health insurance, your coverage is going to become more stable and secure with the passing of the bill. If you aren’t insured, health insurance will be more affordable.

Those without insurance will have immediate access to affordable insurance through a temporary subsidized high-risk pool. Additionally, there will be provisions for providing preventive care (well visits). This should make a difference in the high costs we currently pay for emergency room visits; individuals who have been visiting the emergency room because they can’t afford to see the doctor and have let their situations deteriorate to the point of needing emergency care will now be able to seek medical attention from their doctors.

Insurance companies can no longer deny children with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma or diabetes, healthcare coverage. This portion of the plan will take effect six months from now. In 2014 anyone with a pre-existing condition will be able to get health insurance.

Seniors who have hit the “donut hole” in their Medicare benefits will be provided with a $250 rebate in 2010. In 2011, it will eliminate co-payments for preventive services and will exempt the visits from Medicare-set deductibles.

Many of us believe this will be even more detrimental to the already outrageous deficit; however, experts say this bill will actually contribute to the largest deficit reduction since the 1990s. They expect the new healthcare reform to reduce the current deficit by at least $100 billion during the first decade and even more during the second.

When individuals say this is a “government takeover of healthcare” you might ask them to point out what it is about the bill, specifically, that makes them believe this. I, for one, believe healthcare reform has been a long-time need that finally has reached its destination – just think of what our nation’s children might be able to accomplish in school if they are kept healthy!