March 22, 2010 in Region

Washington insurance commissioner lauds health bill

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What Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is saying Monday about the House’s passage of health care overhaul:

“For decades, our health care system has failed millions of people – driving them and their families into bankruptcy, letting treatable diseases fester into health crises, and invisibly leeching billions of dollars from our economy. The health care reforms passed today will transform our country and our state.”

In a press release Kreidler said the bill will:

• Lower the number of uninsured people in Washington state by 500,000.

• Help hospitals and other providers in the state save $500 million in uncompensated care.

• Outlaw the denial of insurance coverage for children with pre-existing medical conditions.

• Award state government with $13.8 billion in federal dollars to offset the cost of coverage for Washington residents who can’t now afford insurance.

• Erase co-pays for preventive care.

• Allow parents to keep children on their insurance plans to age 26.

• Create a high-risk coverage pool and help people pay for it through government subsidies.

• Give Medicare beneficiaries a $250 rebate to help pay prescription drug costs once they hit the “doughnut hole,” a gap in coverage after the first $2,830 a year in benefits. Starting next year, seniors will get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs. The gap will be eliminated by 2020.

Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  cowboy on March 22 at 10:52 p.m.

  The gap will be eliminated by 2020 because all seniors will be exterminated by then.

• 

  misjustice on March 22 at 11:06 p.m.

  The insurance commissioner has spelled out just how important the passage of the federal Health Insurance Reform bill is to this state, and other states for that matter.

  The bill is not perfect, but is a beginning towards lowering costs, spreading risks, and insuring more citizens.

  Some of the benefits will be realized as soon as President Obama signs the bill into law; others a few years hence. The important point is that we have begun to take the steps necessary to insure more citizens and lower the cost of medical care for all.

  Peace out! ; )

  Oh and LMFAO…didn’t want to disappoint any of my critics! ; )