IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO HEALTHCARE
PASSED BY DEMOCRATS

1.   Small business tax credits: Makes it easier for employers to offer healthcare by giving them a tax credit.

2.  Closing Medicare part D donut hole: Participants will receive a $250 check this year to help bridge the gap. The donut hole will be eliminated by 2020.

3.  Free preventive care for Medicare recipients: Under Medicare, no more co-pays for checkups making it easier for patients stay well.

4.   Help for early retirees: Creates a reinsuance program o healthcare is available for those not old enough for Medicare. Runs until the exchange is set up.

5.   Ends rescissions: Makes it illegal for insurance companies to drop you just because you get sick.

6.   Children with pre-existing conditions must be covered: All children who really need insurance because of an illness will be able to get insurance.

7.   No lifetime limits on coverage: No more being denied because the cost of care exceeds some preset number. Now you will be covered no matter what the cost of your care.

8.   No annual limits on coverage: No more being denied because the cost of your care exceeds some preset annual number. Now you will be covered no matter what the cost of your care.

9.   Free preventive care: Under the new private plans no more co-pays for checkups making it easier to stay well.

10. Independent appeals process: Effective, independent new legal process so any problems can be addressed fairly and quickly.

11. 80% of premium goes directly to healthcare: Makes sure your premium dollar goes for healthcare and not on things like advertising.

12. Interim high risk pool: Those who are hard to insure will have access to affordable care until the exchange is established.

13. Extended coverage for young adults: Young people are covered on their parent’s policy until they reach the age of 26.

14.  Help for community healthcare centers: More money for community healthcare centers nearly doubling the number of patients that can be served.

15. More primary care doctors: Invests in programs that will increase the number of primary care doctors.

16. No discrimination based on income: No more favoring high income employees over other employees.

17. Consumer information: Better, clearer access to information, appeals, and complaints about your policy by establishing offices in every state.

18. Long term care: A public insurance program for the disabled financed by voluntary payroll deductions.

Source: www.whitehouse.gov/health-care-meeting/reform-means-you
 www.cdpseniorcacus.org