Health Care Reform Moves to Your State

Passing the new health reform law was just the beginning of knocking down barriers to affordable and quality care for many rural people. While the federal law provides necessary tools for implementing crucial changes, much of the real work will happen at the state level. In many ways, the work has just begun.

In May we outlined key provisions that will go into effect immediately, including state-based high risk pools that cover people who have pre-existing conditions and have been uninsured for six months.

The cost of this coverage to consumers must be comparable to what healthy people pay and provide defined minimum benefits. These high risk pools are temporary, and serve as a bridge to the insurance exchanges that will be established in 2014. At that time, insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage or charge higher rates based on pre-existing conditions.

Some states have opted to run their own high risk pool while others are choosing to have the federal government operate it for them. Regardless of how they’re implemented, high risk pools are important stepping stones for extending coverage to people who currently go without.

Paramount to passing the health reform law was the influence of people who made phone calls and wrote letters and emails. States may differ in how they approach implementing certain health reform provisions – including the high risk pools – but one thing remains true in every state: your voice will continue to shape the future of rural health care. Here are a few ways to be engaged in your state:

Voice your support. Your personal health care story is as important today as it was a year ago. Remind people how reform will benefit their neighbors and greater community by writing a letter or opinion piece for your local newspaper and by talking with your friends and neighbors.

Reach out to state leaders. Contact your state legislators and encourage their support of health reform, including changes that need to happen at the state level. Provide them useful materials (we can provide these!) and encourage your neighbors to do the same. You can also talk with your insurance regulators and their staff to learn how they plan to implement certain provisions of the new law, such as the high-risk pool. Will your state build on an existing high risk pool, start a new program, or rely on the federal government to operate it? Which option is best for your community members?

Contact us. We want to know what you’re hearing in your communities about health reform. What questions are people asking? What resources do you need to help answer your neighbor’s questions? We’ll provide you resources and answers to your questions, and advise you on other ways to be involved in your state. We can send you health care fact sheets and useful reports that describe the benefits of reform to distribute at upcoming meetings this summer.

Remember, you still have an important role to play in transforming rural health care. Stay involved.

For more information, and to get involved, contact Kristina Hubbard, kristinah@cfra.org or Virginia Wolking, virginiaw@cfra.org or call 402.687.2100.

Comments

pre-existing conditions and health legislation

Fri, 07/09/2010 - 19:36 — Kathleen Callan (not verified)

I am experiencing difficulty because of a previously existing condition. My husband is unemployed and this month our health insurance jumped from about $600 a month to $1600 under COBRA. We have, so far, been unable to find a company that will insure me since I have CRPS. They turn me down flat. They will insure my husband and our son and me (as long as they can exclude CRPS) for a reasonable amount. But they say they cannot include CRPS expenses despite the fact that my expenses for that have been less than our premiums for quite a number of years. We are ranching in Oklahoma, putting everything we have into our business, and we are employing people here in construction plus two ladies who help on the ranch since I am semi-disabled. I was urged to apply for disability seven years ago, but did not since I was raised to be self-sufficient. I need health insurance and would like to include my husband, college-aged son and two employees. Is there a program for us somewhere?