New Changes To The American Health Care System

By Author: Cris Brines
Total Articles: 4762
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Whether you have been following the health care reform progress in Washington closely or only digesting bits and pieces, everyone in America is aware of the sweeping changes in health care put into motion by the recently approved health care reform bill. Some changes are effective immediately, while others will take months, or even years, to take effect. Regardless, previously uninsured and underinsured Americans now have the opportunity to shop for health insurance that is both attainable and affordable.

Changes that will be felt sooner rather than later include the opportunity for employees at small businesses where insurance was previously unavailable to have employer-sponsored health insurance. The new law gives small businesses with fewer than 50 employees a tax credit worth up to 50% of insurance premiums, making it more affordable for small business owners and their employees to have coverage.

Another change that takes effect in the earlier stages benefits those with a child who was previously uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition. The new law changes denial of coverage for children with a pre-existing ...
... conditions immediately and sets up a temporary high-risk pool for the adult population until the ban takes effect for them in 2014.

The new system will also help reduce the number of uninsured families. Young Americans who attend college and still live at home with their parents can now be covered under mom or dad's policy. Further, by 2018, all health care plans must cover routine checkups and preventative care with no co-pay and the lifetime cap must be eliminated. This makes it more affordable to obtain routine healthcare for all members of a family, not just young children. The new law also eliminates recission, or dropping a person from a plan if they become sick.

For older Americans who want to retire before becoming eligible for Medicare, there are new changes in place to make early retiree health coverage more affordable. Those who are eligible for Medicare will see the Medicare gap closing by receiving rebate assistance in covering the cost. To offset costs of insurance for individuals, tax credits will be offered to certain filers who maintain coverage.

Though these are just some of the nuts and bolts of a very complicated and lengthy bill, the idea is basic - make health care more available and more affordable. Naturally, with change often comes confusion. Making health care options more readily available and affordable does not change the process by which many individuals must shop for and compare plans. While the plans themselves must adhere to the law, it remains the responsibility of the individual to choose the right plan for their situation.

It seems reasonable to assume that most people want health care coverage of some type. Whether it's a comprehensive policy that covers routine care, health screenings, laboratory tests, office procedures, and hospitalization, or it is a basic major medical or hospitalization plan only, few Americans can afford to go without health care. The fact that there could be penalties for not having medical coverage will most likely be further incentive to make sure they and their families are covered.

One of the more promising items in the changes in health care is the possibility for facilities to advance their research and technology through additional grant funding. This could have the potential to improve overall health care options available to all patients. Whether through improved testing and procedures for specific conditions and treatment options, or simply making quality care available to smaller, rural facilities, the hope of an overall improvement in quality care is looming on the horizon.

There is no doubt that more reverberations will be felt as a result of the recent health care reform, but if you are one of millions of Americans that has been denied coverage or couldn't afford coverage there will now be new options available. Maybe you will have the option to purchase health insurance through work, or maybe now it is time to research the health care coverage options available to you through private insurers. You may have options and benefits available at a more affordable cost than before, and you should always comparison shop competitive rates and plans to see if the new changes have an immediate or future impact on your situation.
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