Health Care Blog

People with Disabilities and the ACA

Posted by Liza Heyman on November 14, 2014 at 3:49 PM EDT

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is making health insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans. With the passage of this law, individuals and families have more control over their care -- especially individuals with disabilities. The ACA provides people with disabilities a basic protection -- they can no longer be denied access to health insurance simply because of their health history.

Under the ACA, individuals like myself can no longer be denied health care because of a pre-existing condition. This is significant for the up to 129 million non-elderly Americans living with some type of pre-existing health condition such as asthma or diabetes, including 17.6 million children.

read the rest

Learn more about Disabilities, Health Care
Getting Ready for Open Enrollment:

Posted by Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell on November 13, 2014 at 2:49 PM EDT

Ed note: This is cross-posted from the Department of Health and Human Services' blog.

With just two days to go until the start of Open Enrollment, I want to share with you what we've been doing at the Department of Health and Human Services to expand access to quality, affordable coverage to more people and to lay the groundwork for a successful Open Enrollment.

First, we're committed to improving the consumer experience.

We've listened to feedback and have put that learning into practice. Most consumers who come back to HealthCare.gov to renew their coverage will find about 90% of their application is pre-populated, based on answers from last year. Consumers who are renewing coverage, as well as consumers shopping for coverage for the first time, will have 25% more options to choose from on average. That means consumers can shop and find a more affordable plan that better meets their needs. And we've added 1,000 representatives to our 24-hour call center to answer questions and help consumers get and stay covered.

read the rest

Learn more about Health Care
Letters to the President: The Dicksons and the Affordable Care Act

Posted by Max Sgro on November 13, 2014 at 11:52 AM EDT

Every day, thousands of Americans write President Obama about the issues that matter most to them -- and my job is to help sort through them. This post is the first in a series that will help highlight the stories of Americans who have written the President about the Affordable Care Act and what it means to them. Starting November 15, you can visit HealthCare.gov to shop for and enroll in a plan that works for you.

The voices of people across America inform the President and give him invaluable perspective on the progress we've made -- as well as the work we've got left to do. If you want to write the President yourself, you can do that here.

“Because we now have access to affordable healthcare, we have now signed a long-term lease to open a retail business in Georgetown, Texas.”

--Russ and Linda Dickson

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama meet with Texans who wrote letters to the President about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), at the Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas, April 10, 2014. Participants include: Linda Dickson (52) with Russ Dickson (60) [husband] (antique store owners). (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

read the rest

Learn more about Health Care
Letters to the President: Kristy and the Affordable Care Act

Posted by Max Sgro on November 12, 2014 at 5:34 PM EDT

Every day, thousands of Americans write the President about the issues that matter most to them -- and my job is to help sort through them. This post is part of a series that will help highlight the stories of Americans who have written the President about the Affordable Care Act and what it means to them. Starting November 15, you can visit HealthCare.gov to shop for and enroll in a plan that works for you.

The voices of people across America inform the President and give him invaluable perspective on the progress we've made -- as well as the work we've got left to do. If you want to write the President yourself, you can do that here.

Last November, Kristy Borum of Canyon Lake, Texas sat down to write a letter to President Obama about the Affordable Care Act.

For years, Kristy explained in her letter, she had supported herself and her children by driving 18-wheeler trucks throughout the U.S. This job allowed her to provide for her family, but did not provide health insurance. And unfortunately for Kristy, private insurance on the open market was not in the budget. Kristy is on Medicare now, but she wasn't a couple of years ago, before the ACA took full effect -- when she became seriously ill and spent 27 days in the hospital. Kristy had been without insurance coverage for decades—and by the time she returned home from the hospital she owed almost $100,000 in medical bills.

read the rest

Learn more about Health Care
You Can Check Out Health Care Plans and Prices for 2015 Right Now

Posted by Tanya Somanader on November 12, 2014 at 4:06 PM EDT

The season approaches. Not just the holiday season -- it’s time to get ready for open enrollment season, too! What is open enrollment? Beginning on November 15, you will have 92 days to shop for health care insurance and find the coverage that best suits your needs. If you want to be covered in 2015, you must sign up between November 15 and February 15.

So before you start window shopping for your gift list, check out HealthCare.gov’s new "window-shopping" tool to browse the coverage options in your area and see what health plan will work best for you and your pocketbook -- then share it with your friends and family.

read the rest

Learn more about Health Care
Fighting Ebola: 5 Things You Need to Know About Emergency Funding to Combat the Disease

Posted by Tanya Somanader on November 5, 2014 at 7:53 PM EDT

The current Ebola epidemic plaguing West Africa is the deadliest Ebola outbreak in human history.

Since the first cases were reported in March, the U.S. has mounted a large-scale and comprehensive effort to protect the American people here at home while fighting the disease at its source.

Today, the Administration asked Congress to help bolster America’s resources in the fight against Ebola by providing $6.18 billion toward our whole-of-government efforts. The emergency funds will help ensure that we meet both immediate and long-term needs, and that there are resources available to meet the evolving nature of the epidemic.

Here's what you need to know about this request and our response to Ebola:

1. What exactly will the funding be used for?

read the rest

Learn more about , , Health Care, Homeland Security