As the White House noted today, the passage of the historic health care reform bill was six months ago today. Parts of the plan are already being implemented and today the new Patient's Bill of Rights went into affect:
The Patient’s Bill of Rights:
- Bans discrimination against kids with pre-existing conditions.
- Allows young adults to remain on their parents’ plan until their 26th birthday.
- Prohibits insurance companies from cutting off your coverage when you’re sick if you made a mistake on your application.
- Prohibits insurance companies from putting a lifetime limit on the amount of coverage you may receive, and restricts the use of annual limits until they are banned completely in 2014.
- And if you join a new plan:
- You have the right to choose your own doctor in your insurer network.
- Your insurer is banned from charging more for emergency services obtained outside of their network.
- You will be guaranteed the right to appeal insurance company decisions to an independent third party.
- You will receive recommended preventive care with no out-of-pocket cost. Services like mammograms, colonoscopies, immunizations, pre-natal and new baby care will be covered, and insurance companies will be prohibited from charging deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance.
This is good news for the American people. President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid should be applauded for their leadership on this critically important moral issue. Learn more about how health care reform works at www.WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform.
