Fw: Arc and Dont Repeal Health Care Law

[Guest guest]

I am sure we have IPADDU members on both sides of this argument. I have been

meaning to mention that in regard to a potential tax increase in Illinois, as

well...

I post what I get, to keep everyone informed...I rarely editorialize unless I

feel very strongly...

I am always happy to post information that represents all sides of all

arguments.

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Arc and Dont Repeal Health Care Law

The Arc of Illinois

January 5, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

Excellent commentary from Secretary Sebelius on the importance of health care

reform. This was published all over America today.

I dont understand the anger out there about health care reform. I am appalled

that some members of the Congress are making repeal of health care reform a

priority.

Maybe the people are pleased with the insurance giants ruling our personal

health care! Did you know 66% of bankruptcies are linked to medical reasons? All

of us know someone who has had important coverage denied or lost coverage. All

of us know of families who are spending their retirement or college funds on

therapies for their children with disabilities because those therapies are not

covered by their current health care provider. Some of us know people who have

died because medical coverage has been denied. I know I have.

At The Arc, we hear from these families on a daily basis. Is this what we want

for our future?

I think not. I say we need real health care reform!

Write a letter to the editor to the Chicago Tribune about the importance of

health care reform to your family. Here is their link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0105-sebelius-20110105,0,5468\

209.story

Make sure you make your calls to the Capitol today supporting new revenue!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Don't repeal health care law

January 5, 2011

As a new Congress takes office today in Washington, Republican leaders have made

it clear that their first priority is to repeal the new health care law. I can't

think of a worse idea for American families.

The law is giving Americans more freedom in their health care choices. It's

freeing families from the worry that they'll lose their benefits when insurers

unfairly cancel or cap their coverage. It's freeing children with disabilities

and pregnant women from being discriminated against by insurers because of their

health status. It's freeing seniors to get the care they need, whether it's a

prescription medication or a preventive screening like a mammogram. It frees all

of us to look for a new job or start our own business without worrying about

losing health coverage.

Repeal would slam the brakes on this progress, taking control away from families

and their doctors and putting it back in the hands of insurance companies.

Before any member of Congress considers taking such a reckless step backward, he

or she should think through exactly what repeal would mean.

The new law is finally allowing many Americans with health conditions like

cancer and diabetes to get the care they need. Parents of sick children can no

longer be refused coverage because of their child's pre-existing condition.

Thousands of Americans who had been turned away by insurers because of their

health history are now getting critical treatments and medicines thanks to new,

temporary plans in every state. In 2014, the days of insurers discriminating

based on pre-existing conditions will be gone for good.

If repeal succeeds, insurers would be free to shut out these families once

again. And thousands of parents would lose the option of keeping their children

on their health plans up to age 26, one of the key early benefits in the new

law.

Repeal would also rip up the new Patient's Bill of Rights, which outlaws the

worst abuses of health insurers. Thanks to the new law, insurance companies can

no longer cancel your coverage without cause when you get sick. They may no

longer put lifetime dollar limits on your benefits limits that often meant your

coverage was gone when you needed it most. And by 2014, most annual dollar

limits on benefits will be a thing of the past.

If the new Congress repeals the law, these kinds of harmful practices will be

made legal once again.

Repeal would also mean higher health insurance costs for millions of families

and small businesses. After years of dropping coverage, the number of small

businesses offering health coverage to their workers is actually going up thanks

to a tax credit provided by the law. In addition, there are new limits on how

much of your premium insurers can spend on profits, marketing and CEO bonuses,

and new resources to help states review and reject unreasonable premium

increases. And in 2014, small business owners and individuals will have a new

health insurance marketplace where they can shop for affordable coverage.

These common-sense reforms to lower health care costs and ensure that families

and small businesses get more value for their premium dollars would be erased by

repeal.

Repeal would force seniors to continue to pay money out of their own pockets for

cancer screenings and other recommended preventive care, which will be offered

at no additional cost under the new law. And seniors who take the most medicine

would continue to pay thousands of dollars when they hit the " doughnut hole, "

the coverage gap in Medicare coverage for prescription drugs. The new law begins

to eliminate that gap with a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs in 2011,

and fully phases it out over the next several years but only if the repealers

fail.

For years, Americans have demanded that we do something about skyrocketing

health costs, crumbling coverage and out-of-control insurance companies. And now

that we are finally addressing these problems, insurance companies and their

allies want us to go back to the days when insurers were free to cancel your

coverage or hike your premiums or deny your claims just to protect their

corporate profits.

Over the past nine months, I've traveled around the country and seen the

benefits of this law firsthand. Unless we want to take coverage away from cancer

patients, reduce oversight for insurance companies, raise prescription drug

costs for seniors, weaken Medicare, add $1 trillion to the deficit and undo

dozens of other reforms that are improving health around the country, we can't

afford repeal.

Let's not turn back the clock.

Kathleen Sebelius is the secretary of Health and Human Services.

Copyright 2011, Chicago Tribune

www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0105-sebelius-20110105,0,5468209.sto\

ry

chicagotribune.com

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