#GetCovered

HealthCare.gov is Open for Business

Learn More

“Without the Affordable Care Act, I simply could not have retired at 62.”

Read more stories at WhiteHouse.gov/Get-Covered.
Donald L., Palm Coast, FL

Health Care Blog

  • Continuing Our Commitment to Prioritizing HIV/AIDS

    Posted by Jeffrey S. Crowley on August 20, 2010 at 3:00 PM EDT

    Today, the Obama Administration is taking new action to prioritize support for Federal HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs.  We are sending to the Congress an amendment to the President’s FY 2011 budget request to increase HIV/AIDS funding by $65 million.  This is comprised of a requested $35 million increase for HIV prevention in order to continue exciting new HIV prevention activities described below to support the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and a $30 million increase for State AIDS drug assistance programs to respond to the ongoing crisis States are facing in operating these essential programs.  These resources come on top of proposed increases for HIV prevention and care at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that were included in the original budget submission.  Ultimately, the Congress will enact a budget that will establish Federal funding levels for the fiscal year that begins on October 1st.

    Last month, the Obama Administration released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  This was the product of a robust dialogue with the HIV community and other members of the public and identifies a small set of priority action steps for moving the Nation forward in responding to the domestic HIV epidemic.  On the evening of July 13th, the President hosted a reception for the HIV community at the White House where he spoke about the Strategy and his commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS.  He said the following,

    Now, I know that this strategy comes at a difficult time for Americans living with HIV/AIDS, because we’ve got cash-strapped States who are being forced to cut back on essentials, including assistance for AIDS drugs.  I know the need is great.  And that’s why we’ve increased Federal assistance each year that I’ve been in office, providing an emergency supplement this year to help people get the drugs they need, even as we pursue a national strategy that focuses on three central goals.

    We recognize that times are tough and there are significant challenges faced by people living with HIV/AIDS and other Americans that must be addressed.  The Federal government cannot tackle these problems alone, but we can do our part. 

    In the current fiscal year, FY2010, Congress appropriated funding of $835 million for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).  In July, due to the serious shortfalls in State ADAPs resulting largely from State cutbacks, HHS Secretary Sebelius took an emergency step by re-allocating $25 million for ADAPs for a total of $860 million.  Our FY 2011 budget request had included increased ADAP funding, but today’s proposed $30 million increase would continue funding in FY 2011 for the emergency supplemental funds announced last month.  If the Congress follows our recommendation, Federal funding for ADAPs would rise to $885 million next year—a $50 million increase from the level appropriated by Congress for this year.  This action, alone, will not resolve the challenges faced by ADAPs.  We need States to continue to prioritize their funding for ADAPs even in these difficult times, and we need our pharmaceutical company partners, businesses, foundations, and community-based organizations to do their part as well.

    On the issue of HIV prevention, Secretary Sebelius announced new investments in HIV prevention when we released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.  To ensure that these initiatives continue, we are requesting $35 million in additional funds for next year.  In FY 2010, these resources are supporting:

    • Comprehensive HIV prevention ($11.6 million):  This will fund the implementation and evaluation of effective combinations of behavioral and biomedical prevention interventions in the highest prevalence jurisdictions.  These jurisdictions will compete to scale-up effective comprehensive approaches in subsequent years. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for this initiative is available on Grants.gov. Be sure to type “CDC-RFA-PS10-10181” as the Funding Opportunity Number to download the FOA.
    • Increased testing and linkage to care ($4.4 million):  Building on CDC’s new Expanded Testing Initiative, these funds will ensure that resources are provided to support targeted testing and linkage services for high prevalence communities, including Black, Latino, injection drug using (IDU), and gay male communities. 
    • Expanded HIV surveillance ($5.5 million):  This will support work with jurisdictions to ensure that all jurisdictions report CD4 cell counts and viral loads to the public health surveillance system, enable jurisdictions to estimate community viral load, and take other steps to improve the surveillance system.
    • Consultation, evaluation, technical support and annual MSM survey ($6.5 million):  These resources will support evaluation and monitoring, assisting with developing and implementing new activities and conducting an annual internet survey for men who have sex with men (MSM) to collect behavioral, HIV testing, and other information.
    • HIV, viral hepatitis, STD prevention and sexual health promotion with Tribal Communities ($1 million):  CDC will partner with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to work with Tribal communities on prevention and health promotion.

    These activities reflect a new direction that we believe will have a greater impact at lowering the number of new HIV infections in the United States. 

    Today’s announcement demonstrates that we are committed to implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and ensuring that necessary investments in prevention and care services for people living with HIV continue.

    Jeffrey S. Crowley is the Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy

    Learn more about , Health Care

  • Video: A Backyard Conversation with the President

    Posted by Katelyn Sabochik on August 19, 2010 at 10:15 AM EDT

    Yesterday, President Obama joined families from the Columbus area to answer their questions on topics ranging from health care to Wall Street reform and Social Security.  The discussion took place in Joe and Rhonda Weithman’s backyard after President Obama spent some time around the Weithman’s kitchen table talking about the challenges they have faced over the past year. 

    Check out to full video of the discussion or use the links below to jump to specific topics.

    Read the Transcript  |  Download Video: mp4 (559MB) | mp3 (54MB)
     

    Learn more about Economy, Education, Health Care, Working Families, Additional Issues

  • Seniors Already Seeing Lower Prescription Drug Costs

    Posted by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on August 18, 2010 at 4:49 PM EDT

    The Affordable Care Act is working to help bring down the cost of prescription drugs for seniors enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program and today, we got more good news for our seniors.

    This afternoon, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Medicare prescription drug plan premiums for 2011 will stay similar to rates beneficiaries are currently paying this year. The average premiums in 2010 were $29 per month -- in 2011 we expect average monthly premiums to be just a dollar more. All beneficiaries should check to make sure that the plan offerings that will be available in 2011 are right for them when information on those plans becomes available in October.

    While there has been almost no change in premiums for 2011, people with Medicare will see big improvements in drug coverage next year. Under the Affordable Care Act, they will see lower prescription drug costs, if they fall into the coverage gap or "donut hole."  This year, people with Medicare who are in the donut hole are receiving one-time $250 rebate checks. Next year, they will receive 50% discounts on brand-name drugs and in each year their costs will be reduced even more until the donut hole is closed in 2020 - meaning that after 2020 there will be no more coverage gap, and people with Medicare will just pay their normal cost-sharing amount until they reach the annual out-of-pocket limit.

    And just like President Obama promised -- guaranteed benefits for the seniors and persons with disabilities who rely on Medicare won't change.

    The Affordable Care Act was designed to strengthen the Medicare program and ensure that it will continue to provide health security to our seniors for many years to come. Today's announcement -- just like the recent news that the Affordable Care Act will help extend the life of the trust fund by 12 additional years -- is good news for them and their children.

    The Affordable Care Act also means less disruption for people with Medicare. Low-income seniors often have to change prescription drug plans every year to find a plan with no premium. Now, more beneficiaries with limited income will be able to keep their plan if they want to while continuing to have a wide range of plans to choose from if they want to change plans.

    General information about premiums and benefits for each Part D and Medicare Advantage (MA) plan will be announced in September on www.cms.gov, and more detailed information to help beneficiaries review their plan options will be available in October at www.medicare.gov. In addition, each autumn, the comprehensive Medicare & You handbook and other program updates are mailed directly to beneficiaries' mailboxes with important information about health plans, prescription drug plans, and rights and protections to help people with Medicare, their families and caregivers review coverage options. And more information on how the Affordable Care Act will continue to strengthen and improve Medicare is available at www.HealthCare.gov, a new web portal.

    Kathleen Sebelius is Secretary of Health and Human Services

    Learn more about Health Care

  • Sharing What Health Reform Means for Local Communities

    Posted by Alexia Kelley on August 16, 2010 at 5:09 PM EDT


    The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, along with the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at HHS (the Partnership Center), recently participated in a Legislative Town Hall for faith leaders on the Affordable Care Act, sponsored by Congressman Elijah Cummings. Congressman Cummings also moderated the event at Coppin State University in Baltimore, MD. He shared his own family’s experience with health care and his vote for the Affordable Care Act.

    Many of the faith leaders who attended the event in Baltimore are active in community health outreach efforts. White House Office Executive Director Joshua DuBois gave an overview of the work and mission of the White House Office, and I shared an overview of the HHS Partnership Center. We then dialogued with the participants, many of whom shared their observations about health care challenges in their communities.

    A panel discussion followed on what health reform means right now and down the road for communities. HHS Regional Director Joanne Grossi presented an overview of the Affordable Care Act. Frances Phillips, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, talked about the work of Maryland’s Health Care Reform Coordinating Council, which is engaging the public and taking the input of community members in order to make recommendations around health reform implementation in Maryland.

    A highlight of the event was the “tour” a member of the HHS web team gave the audience of the newly-launched HealthCare.gov, a user-friendly, one-stop shop where visitors can find answers to a variety of health care questions. As part of the presentation, community leaders shared stories about people in their communities with health care needs. With each person’s profile, the HHS web presenter used the new “insurance finder” to search for available health care options for each person, including private insurance plans and community services.

     Alexia Kelley is the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

     

    Learn more about Health Care

  • Slowing Large Health Insurance Premium Increases

    Posted by Chris Gregoire on August 16, 2010 at 1:52 PM EDT

    All Americans should have access to high-quality, affordable health care. We can’t let the rising cost of health care continue to bankrupt our families, businesses and government. We have to take steps to make health care more affordable, and enhance the quality of care our families are receiving.

    I am pleased to report that the Affordable Care Act is helping to do this for Washingtonians in a very important way. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new resources aimed at ensuring that Washington and other States have the tools they need to hold insurance companies accountable and put a halt to unreasonable premium increases. The announcement of $46 million in grants to the States to help conduct rate reviews, a process that requires insurers to submit their proposed health insurance premium increases to State Insurance Departments for review before they go into effect, is an incredibly important step forward in reforming the health insurance marketplace.

    Rate review has worked here in Washington State – rates for some individual health plans in Washington increased by up to 40 percent until we stepped in to impose stiffer premium oversight. The new resources provided through these grants will enhance our ability to crack down on unjustified rate hikes by insurance companies.

    Here’s how we’ll put these funds to good use in Washington:

    • Improve the Review Process: Washington already conducts in-depth review of proposed premium increases for individuals and small groups. We will use these grant funds to update and improve our IT systems for these reviews. All grantees will use these funds to make similar updates – and require insurance companies to report more extensive information through a new, standardized process to better evaluate proposed premium increases and increase transparency across the marketplace.
    • Make More Information Publicly Available: Like 41 other States and the District of Columbia, Washington is going to increase the transparency of the health insurance premium review process and provide easy to understand, consumer-friendly information to the public about changes to their premiums. In our case, we will create a web based consumer website called “Consumer Care" to provide information about the cost and quality of health care.
    • Develop and Upgrade Technology: All grantees, including Washington, will develop and upgrade existing technology to streamline data sharing and put information in the hands of consumers more quickly.

    The funds are the first round of a five year, $250 million grant program made available under the Affordable Care Act. I am looking forward to the new opportunities these funds will bring to Washington – our actions will help businesses facing hard decisions about their budgets and will help families, who all too often find that maintaining insurance in the current market given large annual premium increases is not feasible. These initiatives will allow Washingtonians, and all Americans, to know that insurance companies will be held accountable for raising rates – a critical step in making health insurance affordable for all Americans.

    To read more about rate review, visit HealthCare.gov.

    Chris Gregoire is Governor, Washington State

    Learn more about Health Care

  • A Bad Road for Seniors

    Posted by Stephanie Cutter on August 13, 2010 at 5:45 PM EDT

    As we know from last week’s Medicare Trustees report, the Affordable Care Act will strengthen Medicare by extending the Trust Fund for 12 years -- the largest extension in history -- and cut costs for seniors.  The new law will also save Medicare $575 billion over the next ten years  and provisions of the law that are already being implemented will save $8 billion for Medicare in just the next two years alone. At the same time, the new law protects seniors’ guaranteed benefits and helps bring costs down. By 2018, seniors will save on average almost $200 per year in premiums compared to what they would have paid without the new law and the law ultimately will completely close the prescription drug donut hole.

    But as we’re moving forward, cutting health care costs and protecting seniors, some in Congress want to take us back and tell seniors they are on their own. Today, Rep. Paul Ryan published an op-ed in the Washington Post on his plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program.

    Under the Ryan plan, the Medicare seniors know and trust would disappear. In its place, seniors would receive a voucher to buy insurance on the private market.  Last month, former OMB Director Peter Orszag spoke about Rep. Ryan’s voucher plan and its impact on our seniors and the cost of health care:

    Over time, the voucher would increase far more slowly than projected increases in health care costs, and seniors would be asked to cover the widening difference in costs… Proponents envision seniors buying high-deductible health insurance plans—insurance plans in which seniors would pay out-of-pocket for ‘regular’ medical expenses and in which insurance only covers catastrophic costs.

    Unfortunately, these plans would do little if anything bring down health care costs and would leave seniors with bigger bills. As Orszag noted:

    For such high-cost patients, high-deductible plans would do little to change the delivery of health care—since these patients would rapidly run through their deductibles and most of their costs are above the deductibles.

    Indeed, in the context of traditional health plans, CBO concluded that universal high-deductible plans would reduce costs by only about 5 percent relative to conventionally designed PPOs—and may not reduce costs at all relative to HMOs.

    And Orszag discussed how the Ryan plan would cut Medicare and put seniors at risk:

    …The plan simply mechanically cuts Medicare by increasing its vouchers more slowly than health care costs.

    The result is that most of the budget savings would come from simply by shifting more and more cost and risk—ultimately including catastrophic risks—onto seniors without substantially altering the course of overall health costs.

    The bottom line under the Ryan plan: Costs would continue to rise, the value of benefits provided to seniors would continue to fall, and seniors would be stuck with fewer benefits and bigger bills. And, according to outside analysts, his plan would substantially increase the deficit in the medium-term.

    We won’t go down Rep. Ryan’s road.

    The President has stated repeatedly that we have a solemn vow to protect and strengthen Medicare. Under President Obama’s leadership we have taken historic steps to do just that. There’s more work to be done, but the President and his team are committed to protecting Medicare and ensuring seniors have the high-quality care they expect and deserve.

    Stephanie Cutter is Assistant to the President for Special Projects

    Learn more about Health Care, Seniors and Social Security

From the Press Office

Related Videos