Health Care Reform: What Does it Mean for People with Arthritis?

6 Ways Health Care Reform Impacts Our Community...
Regardless of what side the political fence you may be on, here's the facts on how the new health care reform will affect those with arthritis.

Immediately..
1. It eliminates exclusion of pre-existing conditions such as arthritis. In 6 months, the nearly 300,000 children living with arthritis will no longer be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. By January 1, 2014 this law will take effect for the 46 million adults with arthritis as well.

2. It eliminates restrictive annual and lifetime limits on coverage.
Because of the high cost of biologics, this provision is good news for those with inflammatory forms of arthritis who quickly meet annual maximums. Starting in 2014, the law will prohibit insurance companies from placing annual limits - or caps - on coverage. Until then, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services will determine annual limits starting late September 2010.

3. It allows adult children to stay on their parents' health insurance policies up to the age of 26.
This provision, which will take effect in less than six months, will allow adult children to stay on their parents' plans longer than most plans currently allow.

4. It bans insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick.
This provision, which takes effect in six months, will provide peace of mind to people with arthritis to know that they are not at risk of losing their health insurance.

Gradually...
5. It improves access to pediatric rheumatologists.
Through advocating for the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, the Arthritis Foundation has been seeking a solution to the shortage of pediatric rheumatologists. As part of health care reform, a new pediatric loan repayment program for pediatric sub-specialists was included to encourage doctors to enter into fields such as pediatric rheumatology. We will keep you posted as we ensure that pediatric rheumatology is included in this new program.

6. It closes the gap in prescription drug benefitis for Medicare Part D.
Currently, people on Medicare are responsible for 100% of their prescription drug costs of up to $1,720 once their out-of-pocket expenses on copays reach $2,830. We call this $1,720 expenditure the "doughnut hole". Effective this year, the Medicare Part D drug program will provide a $250 rebate to Medicare beneficiaries who hit the doughnut hole. Next year there will be a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs for those who reach the doughnut hole. By 2020 beneficiaries will receive discounts of 75 percent on brand name and generic drugs.