IWS Documented News DAILY POSTINGS

IWS Documented News Service

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Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach

School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies

Cornell University

16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky

New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau

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White House

Affordable Care Act: The New Health Care Law at Two Years [23 March 2012]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/careact.pdf

[full-text, 6 pages]

[excerpt]

The President’s health plan gives hard working, middle class families the security they deserve. The Affordable Care

Act forces insurance companies to play by the rules, prohibiting them from discriminating against anyone with a

pre-existing condition, dropping your coverage if you get sick, billing you into bankruptcy because of an illness or

injury, and limiting your annual or lifetime benefits. And thanks to health reform, all Americans will have the security

to know that you don’t have to worry about losing coverage if you’re laid off or change jobs, and insurance companies

are required to cover your preventive care like mammograms and other cancer screenings.

Health reform is already making a difference. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act:

•• 2.5 million more young adults have health insurance on their parent’s plan.

•• In 2010 and 2011, over 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare have saved over $3.1

billion on prescription drugs. These savings include a one-time $250 rebate check to seniors who hit the

“donut hole” coverage gap in 2010, and a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in the donut hole in

2011. And everyone with Medicare can get key preventive services like mammograms and other cancer

screening tests for free.

•• Insurance companies can no longer drop your coverage when you get sick because of a mistake on your

application, put a lifetime cap on the dollar amount of coverage you can receive or raise your premiums

with no accountability.

•• Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children because of a pre-existing condition. And

in 2014, discriminating against anyone with a pre-existing condition will be prohibited.

The Affordable Care Act is helping Americans access the care and coverage they need. At the same time, States and

the Obama Administration are moving forward to continue holding insurance companies accountable, working

with health care providers to improve care for patients, and creating new health insurance marketplaces.

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