Health Care Reform: Affecting More than Health
What is in the Health Care Bill?
If you don't know exactly what's in the comprehensive health care reform bill, signed into law March 23, you're not alone because the details have changed to fit budgetary and political requirements for passage. But the broad outlines have remained the same -- especially the basic insurance coverage reforms and expansion of affordable coverage.
If you don't know exactly what's in the comprehensive health care reform bill, signed into law March 23, you're not alone because the details have changed to fit budgetary and political requirements for passage. But the broad outlines have remained the same -- especially the basic insurance coverage reforms and expansion of affordable coverage.
Given the heat and misinformation generated in the
political debate, it is important to get the facts right and share them
with your neighbors.
- Insurers can no longer exclude coverage for specific medical problems for children with pre-existing conditions.
- Young adults up to age 26 who are unmarried and uncovered by an employer can be carried on their parents' insurance plan or can buy relatively cheap catastrophic coverage.
- Those who have been rendered uninsurable due to poor health will qualify for coverage through a federal program.
- The "home visitation" program for low-income mothers and their babies remained part of the health care reform.
Other changes that affect families and children are
scheduled to take effect in 2014.
Education Funding and Reforms in the Health
Care Bill
The reform bill also included budget components that affect education. Here's a look at what made it into the final bill and what went missing.
The reform bill also included budget components that affect education. Here's a look at what made it into the final bill and what went missing.
- Senator Harkin (D-Iowa) applauds $42 billion in new education spending in the health care bill.
- Inside Higher Ed reports on the full "good news, bad news" picture -- funding for financial aid and community colleges was trimmed and new funding for early education was eliminated.
- NAEYC says that despite these disappointments, there is still opportunity to improve early learning funding through the budget process.
Indian health care bill Reauthorized in the
Health Care Bill
Rob Capriccioso, a former staff writer for Connect for Kids, says a little-known section of the health care reform bill includes an important reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which expired in 2001.
Will the Health Care Bill Close the Wealth Gap?
Rob Capriccioso, a former staff writer for Connect for Kids, says a little-known section of the health care reform bill includes an important reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which expired in 2001.
Will the Health Care Bill Close the Wealth Gap?
In a March 24 New York Times commentary, "In the Health Care Bill, Obama Attacks Wealth Inequality," writer David Leonhardt argues that this could be "the federal government's biggest attack on economic inequality since inequality began rising more than three decades ago."
