Fw: Illinois Health Matters: New Website Launched Today

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Ellen Garber Bronfeld

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Illinois Health Matters: New Website Launched Today

New Website Is Comprehensive Source for Health Reform Answers

Extensive Information for Individuals, Small Businesses, Community

Organizations, and Policymakers

February 1, 2011 -- Chicago, IL: Health & Disability Advocates today launched

Illinois Health Matters (illinoishealthmatters.org), a website funded by The

Chicago Community Trust that provides up-to-date information on health care

reform and its impact-now and in the future-for Illinois consumers, small

businesses, the media and policymakers, and community-based organizations. The

website provides solid facts and busts common myths related to health care

reform, including individual decision-making ability, the role of the government

in health care, the cost of insurance, and options of small business owners.

" Amid the ongoing debate about health care reform, it's important that Illinois

residents know how it will really affect them and about the changes already

taking place, " said Barbara Otto, CEO of Health & Disability Advocates. " We are

so pleased to offer this resource, because while the move to health care reform

may be complicated, it has tremendous potential to improve the health of

Illinois residents. "

Illinois Health Matters was created jointly by five partners: Health &

Disability Advocates, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law,

AgeOptions, Campaign for Better Health Care, and Health & Medicine Policy

Research Group.

Since the passage of the historic Affordable Care Act, both the federal

government and State of Illinois have begun to implement changes to provide

affordable, quality care for Illinois residents. Illinois Health Matters is

designed to help individuals, businesses, and community-based organizations make

smooth transitions to the changes under way. People with pre-existing

conditions, self-employed individuals, seniors, and others can find information

pertinent to their own health care situations. Community-based organizations and

state policymakers can also find trusted information to help their constituents.

With regular news updates, Illinois Health Matters will provide timely

information on legislation, Governor Quinn's Health Care Reform Implementation

Council, and events related to health care reform in Illinois.

Illinois Health Matters explains the key elements of the Affordable Care Act,

provides a timeline of when each part of the law will take effect, describes the

impact on the citizens of Illinois, and includes a Question and Answer section.

Illinois Health Matters also provides facts and myths, FAQs, information about

training sessions that may be helpful to each audience, and extensive links to

more information.

The Illinois Health Matters website was designed by the Chicago-based ad agency

Wirestone, which also designed the acclaimed ThinkBeyondTheLabel.org website,

providing resources for those with disabilities who wish to enter the workforce.

What You'll Learn from Illinois Health Matters:

a.. Insurance companies are no longer able to cancel policies when people get

sick

b.. Premiums are no longer based on gender or health condition

c.. About 194,000 Illinois small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will

be eligible for tax credits to decrease the cost of providing insurance

d.. In 2011, 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries will start receiving free

preventive care

e.. In 2014, all U.S. citizens and legal residents will be required to have

qualifying health coverage.

f.. In 2014, more than 1.5 million Illinois residents will be eligible for tax

credits to help them buy health insurance.

The website will also include an Illinois Health Matters Blog which will feature

state and national health care policy experts' opinions and comments about

timely health care implementation topics, a facebook page and a Twitter feed.

About Health & Disability Advocates:

Health & Disability Advocates (HDA) is a state and national policy and advocacy

organization that promotes income security, enhances work opportunities, and

improves health care access and services for low income children, people with

disabilities and older adults.

About Wirestone, LLC:

Wirestone is a digital marketing solutions agency that specializes in helping

world-class brands connect and activate their customers through the creation of

insight-driven, targeted customer experiences. Wirestone is headquartered in San

Francisco and has offices in seven U.S. cities with 175 passionate people.

Wirestone's client partners include HP, Microsoft, Nike, Oakley, Motorola, SKYY

Spirits, A.C. , Pabst Brewing and Simplot. Visit Wirestone.com or follow at

twitter.com/Wirestone for more information.