Health / Nutrition
How Health Care Reform Will Affect You
According to an article on WebMD Heath by Andy Miller and reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
How Health Care Reform Will Affect You?
Historic Bill Will Change Health Care in the Short Term and Long Term for Consumers and Employers
March 22, 2010 -- The yearlong, often ugly journey toward health care reform reached a historic milestone late Sunday night, with the House approving legislation that would extend coverage to 32 million more Americans and impose new restrictions on the insurance industry.
What provisions begin soon?
Starting this year, children up to age 26 would be allowed to remain on their parents' health plan. People with pre-existing medical conditions would be eligible for a new federally funded "high-risk" insurance program. Small businesses could qualify for tax credits of up to 35% of the cost of premiums. Insurance plans would be barred from setting lifetime caps on coverage and would no longer be able to cancel policies when a patient gets sick. Health plans would also be prohibited from excluding pre-existing conditions from coverage for children.
When do the main reform changes kick in?
In 2014, that’s when insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, would be set up in states to offer competitive pricing on health policies for individuals and small businesses that don’t have coverage. People with a pre-existing condition would no longer be denied coverage, and all lifetime and annual limits on coverage would be eliminated. Medicaid would be expanded to cover more low-income Americans.
What are the requirements for individuals to buy insurance?
Starting in 2014, a person who did not obtain coverage would pay a penalty of $95 or 1% of income, whichever is greater. That penalty would rise to $695 or 2.5% of income by 2016. The bill would exempt the lowest-income people from that insurance requirement.
How does the bill affect Medicare recipients?
Seniors will get immediate help on the "doughnut hole" - a gap in their coverage for prescription drugs. This year, those reaching that hole would get $250 to help pay their drug costs. Next year, they would receive a 50% discount on the cost of brand-name drugs in the doughnut hole. Meanwhile, preventive screenings would be free to beneficiaries beginning this year.
But federal payments to Medicare Advantage plans would be cut substantially, starting in 2011. So seniors in those plans may lose some extra benefits, such as free eyeglasses.
What changes will occur in Medicaid?
Individuals and families with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level (below $29,327 for a family of four) will gain coverage. The federal government will pay all the states’ costs for the newly eligible Medicaid beneficiaries for three years. And primary-care doctors treating Medicaid patients will get an increase in their fees.
Will reform reduce health insurance costs?
Many health care experts say that while it contains some cost-cutting provisions and pilot programs, the legislation doesn’t go far enough to tame rising costs. People with chronic medical problems, though, generally would see their premiums decrease because of the new ban on pre-existing condition discrimination.
How will the $940 billion price tag (over 10 years) be paid for?
Wealthier families will pay more in taxes. Starting in 2013, families with annual incomes above $250,000 (and individuals earning more than $200,000) would pay an additional 3.8% tax on investment income, and also face a higher Medicare payroll tax. Expensive, "Cadillac" insurance plans would draw a new tax starting in 2018. And the Medicare program would receive substantial cuts, including a $132 billion reduction in funding for Advantage plans run by private insurers.
What are some reform provisions that have gone under the radar?
A new, voluntary long-term care benefit would help people who become disabled. Indoor tanning sessions will face a new tax. And the bill requires chain restaurants with 20 or more outlets to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
For more information, please follow the link bellow:
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20100322/faq-how-health-care-reform-will-affect-consumers-employers
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Board of governors Commission on Disability
John O. Pastore Center
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Cranston, RI 02920
401-462-0100
RI Commission on Deaf & Hard of Hearing
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401-222-1204
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Providence, RI 02903
401-421-7005
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401-831-3150
Community Health Centers of Rhode Island and other Resources
Community Health Centers provide quality primary health care in 22 locations throughout Rhode Island. Health centers accept RIteCare and most other types of insurance and also see people who are uninsured on a sliding fee scale. They offer a wide range of services to adults of all ages and children. Contact each center directly for a list of services or call the Rhode Island Health Center Association at 274-1771 or visit their website at www.RIHCA.org
BAYSIDE FAMILY HEALTHCARE
http://www.baysidehealth.org
308 Callahan Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Tel: (401) 295-9706
BLACKSTONE VALLEY COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
http://www.blackstonechc.org/
Pawtucket
42 Park Place
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Tel: (401) 722-0081
Central Falls
9 Chestnut Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Tel: (401) 724-7110
BLOCK ISLAND HEALTH SERVICES
http://www.blockisland.com
6 Payne Road
Block Island, RI 02807
Tel: (401) 466-2125
CHAD BROWN HEALTH CENTER
http://www.chadbrownhealth.org
285A Chad Brown Street
Providence, RI 02908
Tel: (401) 274-6339
EAST BAY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM
http://www.ebcap.org
Riverside
100 Bullocks Point Avenue
Riverside, RI 02915
Tel: (401) 437-1008
Newport
19 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840
Tel: (401) 848-2160
FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES
http://www.comcap.org/matriarch/default.asp
Cranston
1090 Cranston Street
Cranston, RI 02920
Tel: (401) 943-1981
Coventry
191 MacArthur Boulevard
Coventry, RI 02816
Tel: (401) 828-5335
Warwick
226 Buttonwoods Avenue
Warwick, RI 02886
Tel: (401) 732-9090
NARRAGANSETT INDIAN HEALTH CENTER
http://www.narragansett-tribe.org
4533 South County Trail
Charlestown, RI 02813
Tel: (401) 364-1265
NORTHWEST HEALTH CENTER*
http://www.northwesthealthcare.org
Burrillville (Pascoag)
36 Bridgeway
Pascoag, RI 02859
Tel: (401) 567-0800
Foster
142A Danielson Pike
Foster, RI 02825
Tel: (401) 567-0800
PROVIDENCE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
http://www.providencechc.org
Allen Berry Health Center
202 Praire Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
Tel: (401) 444-0570
Capitol Hill Health Center
40 Candace Street
Providence, RI 02908
Tel: (401) 444-0550
Central Health Center
239 Cranston Street
Providence, RI 02907
Tel: (401) 444-0580
Chaffee Health Center
One Warren Way
Providence, RI 02905
Tel: (401) 444-0423
Dental Clinic
557 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02907
Tel: (401) 444-0430
Olneyville Health Center
100 Curtis Street
Providence, RI 02909
Tel: (401) 444-0540
Crossroads RI - Health Care for the Homeless
160 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02903
Tel: (401) 521-2255
THUNDERMIST HEALTH CENTERS
http://www.thundermisthealth.org
Dental Clinic & WIC
191 Social Street 9 th Floor
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Tel: (401) 767-4100
Thundermist Health Center of West Warwick
1219 Main Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
Tel: (401) 615-2800
Thundermist Health Center of Woonsocket
450 Clinton Street
Woonsocket, RI 02895
Tel: (401) 767-4100
Thundermist Health Center of South County
1 River Street
Wakefield, RI 02879
Tel: (401) 783-0523
TRI-TOWN HEALTH CENTER
http://www.tri-town.org
1126 Hartford Avenue
Johnston, RI 02919
Tel: (401) 351-2750
WOOD RIVER HEALTH SERVICES
http://www.woodriverhealthservices.org
823 Main Street
Hope Valley, RI 02832
Tel: (401) 539-2461
RHODE ISLAND HEALTH CENTER ASSOCIATION
235 Promenade Street Suite 104
Providence, RI 02908
Tel: (401) 274-1771
www.rihca.org
RI Health Center Association
Includes Dental as well as Medical
PROVIDENCE & VINCINITY URGENT CARE AND HOSPITALS
North Providence Urgent Care
1830 Mineral Spring Ave
North Providence, RI 02904
(401) 353-1999
Urgent Care East Side
1195 N Main St
Providence, RI 02904
(401) 861-3782
Armistice Urgent Care
209 Armistice Blvd
Pawtucket, RI 02860
(401) 725-4100
Roger Williams Medical Center
825 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-2000
Rhode Island Hospital
593 Eddy St
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 444-4000
Miriam Hospital
164 Summit Ave
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 793-2500
Providence VA Medical Center
830 Chalkstone Ave
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 273-7100
University Medical Group Inc
50 Maude Street
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-2240
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
101 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 274-1100
St. Joseph Hospital for Specialty Care
21 Peace Street
Providence, RI 02907
(401) 456-3000
Garden City Treatment Ctr
1150 Reservoir Avenue Ste 101
Cranston, RI 02920
Healthsouth
17 Seekonk Street
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 453-3311
St Joseph Specialty Care
21 Peace Street
Providence, RI 02907
(401) 456-3600
A Caring Experience Nursing Service Incorporated
21 Douglas Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 453-4545
Butler Hospital
345 Blackstone Blvd
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 455-6200
Miriam Hospital
1 Hoppin Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 444-4800
RI Hospital United Nurses & Allied Professionals
375 Branch Avenue
Providence, RI 02904
(401) 831-3647
Women & Infants Hospital
2 Dudley Street Floor 5
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 453-7955
Women & Infants Ctr-Health Edu.
100 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 276-7800
Care New England
45 Willard Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 453-7900
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
593 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 444-4000
Hampton B Star
695 Eddy Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 453-7560
Providence Homecare & Staffing
758 Eddy Street Ste 3B
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 751-6333
Roger Williams Medical Center
1085 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 351-5072
Butler Hospital
345 Blackstone Blvd Apt A
Providence, RI 02906
(401) 274-1408
Infectious Disease
825 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-2437
State of Rhode Island Health Dept.
2 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 274-1122
Receiving Department
825 Chalkstone Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
(401) 456-2000
Center for Women’s Health
100 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905
(401) 276-7800
Rhode Island Department of Health
3 Capitol Hill
Providence RI 02908
Voice: 1-800-942-7434 (out of state 401-222-5960)
Fax: 401-222-6548 • TTY: 711