KY Consumer Advocates Celebrate Health Reform’s 1st B-Day

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Mar 24th, 2011

FRANKFORT, Ky. - As unresolved lawsuits swirl around the passage of health-care reform, advocates are celebrating its first anniversary by helping consumers better understand the protections it provides.

Proponents of the federal law cheer consumer protections that lift lifetime limits on health benefits and keep insurers from dropping coverage because of illness. Anton Gunn, southeast region director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, believes public support of the law is growing.

"When you ask them if they want to go back to the days when insurance companies can deny coverage because of children having a pre-existing condition, or do you want to make sure your children get removed from your health-insurance plan before the age of 26, most people say no."

Jodi Mitchell, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health, says her group's opinion polls show many Kentuckians are confused about the law. Her group is working to educate the public. Mitchell says one benefit for Kentucky seniors is the rebate checks which help pay for medications if the older citizens fall into the prescription drug coverage "doughnut hole."

"The Affordable Care Act also provides 44 million seniors with free preventive benefits, and that's more than 750,000 seniors in Kentucky. So, we're really excited about the preventive care that the seniors will be receiving to keep Kentuckians healthy."

Gunn says 51,000 Kentucky businesses are getting tax credits to help offset the cost of providing health benefits for their workers. For families, says Gunn, the law affords them more peace of mind.

"It gives families the freedom to stop worrying about losing their insurance or have it capped unexpectedly if someone got sick or if they were in an accident. And it frees a lot of people from the fear of insurance companies raising their premiums by double digits with no recourse or any accountability."

Gunn says the health-care reform law will save the nation $1 billion during the next few years. Opponents are convinced the law is adding to the nation's deficit and are looking to scale back its benefits.

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