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Legislative Alert!
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan
HEART for Women Act to be Marked Up Summer 2010 Please contact your Senator today to urge passing of the HEART for Women Act! The Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee will soon vote on the bill, and your Senator, who serves on the committee, needs to hear from you!
This bill can improve care and treatment for women with heart disease and provide prevention and early detection by:
Committee approval would bring the bill one step closer to final passage in the 111th Congress, which will adjourn sometime before the end of 2010. The House passed the bill in the last Congress and is expected to pass it again if the Senate acts.
Bill mark up Wednesday, July 14 – contact your Senator on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee today!
Don't miss this opportunity to impact the care of all women living with or at risk for heart disease!
Sample Letter to Senate HELP Committee Members
Dear Senator,
When the HELP committee considers the HEART for Women Act (S.422) on this summer, I am counting on you to vote YES on the bill.
This bill can improve care and treatment for women with heart disease and provide prevention and early detection by:
Committee approval would bring the bill one step closer to final passage in the 111th Congress. As you know, the House passed the bill in the last Congress and is expected to pass it again if the Senate acts.
Thank you in advance for passing the HEART for Women Act and for supporting the 42 million American women living with or at risk for heart disease.
Sincerely, (Your name) (Hometown, State)
New Web Site Explains Health Care Reform A new web site, www.HealthCare.gov, funded through the Affordable Care Act, is available to provide consumers with the first central database of health coverage options. The website combines information about public programs, such as Medicare and the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. This user friendly tool allows consumers to shop for health insurance and to make choices that address their particular situation. A Spanish language version is slated for July and price estimates for health insurance plans will be available in October. Please let us know how the website works for you.
Uninsured Women with Heart Disease Gain Coverage The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), which will offer comprehensive coverage at a reasonable cost to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition, was announced on July 1, 2010. Eligibility requirements for the new coverage include:
The plan covers a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs. Eligibility is not based on income and premium costs are not affected by medical condition. Participants pay a premium that is not more than the standard individual health insurance premium in their state for insurance that covers major medical and prescription drug expenses with some cost-sharing.
This transitional program is in effect until 2014, when insurers will be banned from discriminating against adults with pre-existing conditions. To learn more about the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, options available to residents of your state, and how to apply visit www.HealthCare.gov. An informational pamphlet on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan can be found at: http://www.healthcare.gov/center/brochures/pcip.pdf. |
