Children can remain on their parents’ insurance policy until age 26, unless they work for an employer who offers health insurance.  Some states implemented this change months ago, and a few states already allow dependents to stay on a parent’s policy until they reach the age of 30.

One positive aspect of Obama health care is that insurance companies, as of today, can no longer drop a person when they become ill; neither can they search for mistakes on an insurance application in order to deny payment for a service when the customer gets sick.

New health care plans are required to cover numerous preventative services, including colonoscopies and mammograms without a deductible or co-payment.  Health care plans already in force must provide first-dollar coverage for preventative services by 2018.

President Obama, in defense of Obama health care, said at a backyard gathering in Falls Church, Virginia on September 22nd that those who want to repeal the health-care overhaul should have to look in to the eyes of people who cannot afford insurance and tell them “Sorry, you can’t buy health insurance.”  According to the President, increasing health-care costs are the biggest factor in the continuing rise of the federal deficit.
Polls continue to show shifts in support of Obama health care.  In May, when the health care reform bill was signed in to law, 49% of Americans supported it.  Now, a full 56% of Americans disapprove of health care reform.

Other provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that take effect today include:

Insurance companies will no longer have the ability to set lifetime limits on coverage

Children age 19 and under with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied coverage

New tax credits will be available to small businesses to help offset insurance premium costs

Mark South
Obama Health Care