Big Winner in Health Care: You
March 29, 2010
U.S. News & World Report has assembled a list of groups who gained the most and had the biggest impact during the campaign for health insurance reform in a report titled "10 Winners in the Healthcare Debate." First on the list of health care winners is AFSCME and President Gerald W. McEntee: We agree — thanks in no small part to your efforts during this last contentious year, AFSCME and our 1.6 million active and retiree members won big when this historic health reform legislation was signed into law. Among the important benefits:
- Helps 32 million Americans afford health care who do not get it today — and makes coverage more affordable for many more. Under the plan, 95% of Americans will be insured.
- Will close the senior prescription drug coverage loophole that most people know as the ‘donut hole.’
- Will prohibit discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, health status or gender. Immediately prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.
- Extends dependent coverage to age 26.
- Bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.
- Restricts lifetime and annual benefit limits.
So we echo U.S. News and extend well-deserved kudos to AFSCME members, working families, and everyone who worked so hard for so long to make health reform a reality. Congratulations!
