New Transitional Federal Law Provides Health Insurance to Patients with Pre-existing Conditions
Interview with Jennifer Jaff, executive director, Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, conducted by Melinda Tuhus
As part of health care reform law passed last March, federal regulations were issued on July 30 for a new temporary insurance plan in all states for adults with pre-existing medical conditions and no health insurance. Thirty states are inaugurating their own plans, while in the other 20 states' plans will be administered directly by the federal government. Advocates say the new program is a major improvement over the status quo, where such insurance coverage was astronomically expensive and thus out of reach for most of those in need.
But the new insurance plans are still expensive. They will remain in place until 2014, when all insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions will be handled under the federal healthcare reform legislation. Children with pre-existing conditions are already covered.
Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Jennifer Jaff, executive director of the Connecticut-based group, Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, which provides free information and advocacy to people seeking advice on how to secure and retain health insurance coverage. She talks about how the new federal system will work for people with pre-existing conditions and what challenges remain.
For more information, visit Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness's website at www.advocacyforpatients.org
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