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United States Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
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(202) 225-4741 FAX (202) 225-3178
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March 26, 2010 Paul Kincaid, 202-225-4289
Cummings Touts Immediate Effects Of Healthcare Reform
Congressman says that Maryland children, youth, elderly and small businesses will see immediate benefits.
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, (MD-07) today discussed important benefits that Marylanders can expect, immediately after the nation’s broken health insurance system is reformed.
Congress is planning to pass a plan that puts Americans back in control of their health care choices, holds insurance companies accountable, and makes coverage more affordable. The American people will see immediate benefits as soon as the legislation goes into effect.
“This bill gives Marylanders more choices and brings down health care costs,” said Cummings. “When it is enacted, small businesses, seniors, young people, and Americans who have been discriminated against by insurance companies will begin to see immediate relief. We have waited for meaningful health care reform for more than six decades. When our hopes are realized, we will see immediate benefits. By enacting these provisions right away, and others over time, we will be able to lower costs for everyone and give every American more control over their health care choices.”
Those who are uninsured because of a pre-existing condition will be able to buy affordable coverage through a temporary high-risk pool and insurers will be banned from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping coverage when customers get sick and the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare will go down.
The bill also requires new private plans to cover preventive services and immunizations with no co-payments and to ensure that consumers have access to an effective internal and external appeals process to appeal new insurance plan decisions. It also extends coverage to young people, allowing them to remain on their parents’ insurance policy until their 26th birthday.
Small businesses that provide coverage to their employees will be eligible for a tax credit of up to 35% of premiums. New training programs will be funded to train a greater number of primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals. Finally, funding is included to increase support for community health centers – allowing them to almost double the amount of patients they treat over the next five years.
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