Blueprint for Economic Security: Health Security

[irishbobcat]

Blueprint for Economic Security: Health Security


"We can't go back to the days when insurance companies can once again deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions."

Middle-class and working-class American families continue to feel an acute sense of economic insecurity. One major reason for that concern is their continued uncertainty surrounding health care. Many of the reforms that are now law — specifically those reining in insurance industry abuses — remain very popular.  As the focus in 2011 turns to judicial and legislative attempts at repeal and defunding, it is critical to remember that state-specific solutions that build on federal law and ensure reforms continue to be popular. 

Advancing Health Security in the States through Health Care Exchanges:

This legislative session, states have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put consumer protections and stronger access to affordable health care coverage in the hands of their residents.

Under the health care reform law enacted in March 2010, states will be setting up health care "exchanges," or marketplaces, that will create new incentives for the health insurance industry to deliver quality care at lower prices while requiring them to spend more of consumers' premium dollars on actually providing health care -- instead of bloated administrative overhead and egregious compensation for CEOs. Under the timeline set out in the Affordable Care Act, state exchanges are scheduled to begin operating in 2014 - but every state legislature must act this session to pass a strong version of an exchange in their state if they do not want the federal government to run their exchange.