Labor & Employment Law

Most Oppose Health Reform Appeal. Two Guides Navigate the Law

By Mike Hall

The Republican “pledge” to repeal health care reform if that party wins a congressional majority may play well with their tilt-to-the-right base. But according to a new poll from the Associated Press, Americans who think the law should actually have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1.

Some 40 percent of those polled said the new law should have gone even further to change the health care system, while just 20 percent say the government should keep hands off health care. Click here from more on the poll.

Just what does the new health care law do and not do? A new consumer guide from Consumers Union and a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) ?YouToon? offer a family handbook in good old-fashion, straight-forward language that helps us all naviagate the health care reform law.

Says Consumer Reports President Jim Guest:

It?s clear to us that the complex health care marketplace is one that consumers need some of the greatest help navigating.  And while the new health reform law has brought expanded coverage for many, it also brought a lot of confusion.

Both guides explain the new law?s immediate and longer term impacts such as ending insurance companies? caps on lifetime benefits or denying coverage for sick children and expanded coverage options for adults with pre-existing conditions. The KKF animated guide points out that

people on Medicare, because they?re over 65 or disabled, will get more help with their drug costs. Young people can save money and stay insured by remaining on their parents? policies up to age 26. And some small businesses will get tax breaks to help them pay for health insurance for their workers.

For more information on health care and updates on the new law visit http://consumerreports.org/health/insurance/health-insurance.htm. The information is also available in Spanish at http://espanol.consumerreports.org/salud/salud.html. For more on the new law from KKF, click here.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on September 27, 2010 (boomark / email).