Tag Archives: Health insurance

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What happened to Kelli


National Women's Law Center
We all have a health care story to tell. Just stand next to the office water cooler and you’ll hear the stories flow.
My co-worker Kelli shared this one with me:
“My older sister was diagnosed with lupus as a child. She spent much of her life in and out of hospitals and taking handfuls of expensive medications. Once diagnosed, no insurance plan would take her on. My family was stuck with our ‘major medical’ insurance, which only covered a percentage of hospitalizations but nothing else — none of her numerous prescription drugs or doctors’ visits were covered. This affected our whole family. It made it impossible for my parents to save money for our educations, their retirement, or anything else. We were always one illness away from financial disaster. If we’d had the health care law then, my family could’ve gotten better health insurance — because, under the new law, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children who have pre-existing conditions.”
Kelli told us her story. Will you share yours?
Maybe you have private insurance that fails to cover the services you need such as mental health care, maternity care, or prescription drug coverage. Maybe high co-payments and deductibles keep you from getting the health care you need. Maybe you’re uninsured simply because you can’t afford it or you’ve been turned down for health coverage after you got sick. Whatever your story may be, it matters.
Thanks to the health care law, change is on the way. Under the law, you won’t be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition. You won’t lose your health insurance when you get sick. You’ll soon have affordable insurance options through a new health care marketplace.
But right now, many women and their families are still struggling to pay for health coverage and get the care they need. Sadly, there are still families like Kelli’s. Please share your story today.
I love hearing from you. Thank you for fighting with us to advance the rights of women and their families.
Sincerely,
Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National
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Three quick things you should know about Obamacare


Three quick things you should know about Obamacare

Hi all —

In the past few days, we’ve received three really interesting new pieces of information about the health care law, and we wanted to share these data points with you so that you get a big picture of how things are changing for the better as the law gets implemented.

First, the Affordable Care Act is helping to make sure that insurance companies and providers have to compete for your business by creating a Health Insurance Marketplace that offers people more choice and control over their insurance choices. An estimated 80 percent of the people who will enroll in the Marketplaces live in states with five or more different insurance companies to choose from — instead of just one or two. We’ve put together a memo about that, and you can read it HERE.

Second, as the health care law is helping move to a system where data helps improve consumer choices and the quality of care, the government is making more information available to consumers, from hospital charges and quality outcomes to regional health care system performance statistics. Those may sound like dry things, but businesses are springing up across the country and using this data to power new innovation. Secretary Sebelius explains this idea in more detail HERE.

Third, we got some great news about the long-term viability of Medicare. Program cost growth, both long term and short, is down — even as new benefits for preventive care and prescription drugs are now helping tens of millions of beneficiaries. Get more information about the report that shows that Medicare is growing stronger HERE.

We’re sharing this information with you because we’re sure you hear people talk about the health care law in your communities all the time, and if you have questions we’d love to answer them.

Ask your questions about the health care law, and we’ll answer some of them next week.

Thanks,

Tara

Tara McGuinness Senior Communications Advisor The White House

P.S. — Earlier today, the President delivered remarks on the health care law in San Jose. Lean more HERE.

Stay Connected

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My brother isn’t “sick enough”?


Change.org
                          Cigna: Save Seth. Don’t deny my 13-year-old brother the drug he needs to grow.                       
      Sign Morgan’s Petition

My 13-year-old brother Seth is sweet, small and extremely sick. But according to our insurance company Cigna he’s not “sick enough” for the health insurance company to cover the medication his doctor says he desperately needs.

Cigna has refused to pay for Seth to take Increlex, a medication that has helped him overcome his Diabetes and growth hormone deficiency. And even worse, Cigna says it will only cover a medication that Seth’s doctor says could actually kill him.

The insurance giant says that they will not cover the Increlex because Seth has grown too tall — exactly the point of the medication! Essentially, Seth has to get sicker and risk the underdevelopment of his body and internal organs until Cigna agrees to cover his medication.

I can’t stand it. I started a petition on Change.org calling on Cigna not to force my little brother Seth off the medication that his changed his life for the better and could give him a chance at a normal life. Click here to sign my petition now.

Increlex has been a miracle drug for Seth. After Seth started on it, he grew bigger, his organs grew, his grades rose and he was happy. We all were. For the first time, we were hopeful that Seth would lead a happy, full and normal life.

But now, Cigna wants to take that all away. Increlex costs $20,000 a month — and we’re already deep in debt because of all the medical bills.

I know my family isn’t the only one fighting an insurance company. Insurance companies like Cigna are making medical decisions for sick kids like my little brother — decisions that should be made by doctors and patients together. This must stop.

Please join me and my family in calling on Cigna Insurance to not punish by brother for not being “sick enough.”  He needs the Increlex, now.

Click here to sign my petition.

Thank you.

– Morgan Blake Tyler, TX
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HCAN


Helen Dally at Supreme Court

Health care reform is saving lives and protecting families – including young adults trying to start new lives in a challenging economy. So far, 6.6 million young adults have gained health insurance under their parents‘ health care plans as a result of the Affordable Care Act, according to the Commonwealth Fund. The new figures far outstrip earlier estimates.

That’s 6.6 million young people who will have more flexibility to pursue careers of their choosing, who won’t face the added stress of going without health care as they begin their careers and who can know that they’ll be covered if something bad happens. Helen Dally is one of them. In March when the U.S. Supreme Court was hearing arguments on Obamacare, this young woman came to the steps of the court to explain to reporters how the law enabled her to join a health plan sponsored by her parents’ small business.

Please click here to share with your friends and family how this part of the ACA is helping young people.

The dependent coverage provision, one of Obamacare’s most popular elements, allows young adults to enroll in a parent’s health plan as long as they have not reached their 26th birthday and their employer does not offer a qualified health plan. The provision is a godsend for recent college graduates struggling to find work and pay off expensive student loans. Many young adults have been forced to return to their parents’ homes while they look for employment, and the ACA lends these individuals a helping hand while giving parents peace of mind.

This is just one of the many ways that the health care law is working.

Thanks,

Will O’Neill Health Care for America Now

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Smile – and pay up! … Minerva Novoa, ConsumersUnion


Consumers Union, Policy and Action from Consumer Reports
 Send a photo straight from your phone!
Minerva Novoa
Minerva Novoa,
Web team coordinator		  

In July the interest rate will double on widely used federal student loans, and Congress still hasn’t agreed on a way to stop it. If you’re frustrated by the ever-climbing cost of a college education, show us right now!

Send us your photo holding up a simple message of how much you are in debt for a college degree. Or how much your kids, or your grandkids, owe.

We’ll collect your photos and send a strong message to Congress that the old adage of ‘working your way through college’ is outdated when a year of college can equal a yearly salary. It’s time our leaders get real about the cost of a college education.

Getting serious about climate change
For the first time ever, the EPA is proposing limits on carbon pollution from new coal-fired power plants! Opponents are lining up to fight it, so tell the EPA you support pollution limits.

Good, Bad: Medical device bill passes
Your emails put pressure on Congress to strengthen the medical device safety bill, but we fell short of getting a big loophole closed. Find out what we won and lost.  

Wanted: New home for money
It’s not you. Banks DO make it hard for you to close your account and move your money. Check out our new report, and find how you can more easily move your money.

Tricked by your health insurance?
Health insurers can make coverage so confusing you may avoid the doctor. If you’ve felt tricked by your insurance company share your story with us so we can know more.