Labor & Employment Law

As Republicans Vow Repeal, More Health Care Reform Benefits Kick In

By Mike Hall

House Republicans have put repealing health care reform at the top of their to-do list.  Their fight  fight against the Affordable Care Act is not only pure partisan politics, it is also an attack against the millions of regular working people and seniors who benefit from the new law.

Republicans want to repeal the new law’s  guarantee that children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage. Republicans want to repeal new rules limiting insurance company premium hikes and requirements that they spend money on health care not CEO perks.

According Kaiser Health News, several new provisions of the Affordable Care Act kicked in Jan. 1 that could benefit tens of millions of us.

If your insurance company doesn?t spend at least 80 percent of its premium dollars on health care, it may be forced to give rebates to you and other consumers. Republicans want to repeal that.

Prescription drug costs could shrink $700 for a typical Medicare beneficiary in 2011, as the law begins to close the doughnut hole. The National Council on Aging estimates the savings could reach $1,800 for some.  Republicans want to repeal that.

Medicare enrollees will be able to get many preventive health services?such as vaccinations and cancer screenings?for free starting this month. Republicans want to repeal that.

Medicare beneficiaries also can get a free annual ?wellness exam? from their doctors who will set up a ?personalized prevention plan? for them. Republicans want to repeal that.

Companies with fewer than 100 workers that start wellness programs focused on nutrition, smoking cessation, physical fitness and stress management, will be eligible grants from a $200 million federal program, Republicans want to repeal that.

More provisions will be phased over time, including tax credits and other cost-sharing devices that will make health coverage more affordable for as many as 28.6 million low- and moderate-income workers and a $1 trillion cut in the deficit. Republicans want to repeal that.

The House will begin debate in the Republican plan to repeal health care reform later this week and a vote is expected next week. We?ll keep you posted.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on January 03, 2011 (boomark / email).