When Congress passed health reform in March, I wrote about how the law would begin providing benefits for New Mexicans within months of its passage. Those benefits are starting now. Here are just a few examples of how the new law is helping:
- 25,000 New Mexicans with Medicare hit the prescription drug "doughnut hole" last year. Last month, the first beneficiaries who hit the gap this year received a $250 rebate check to help with their expenses.
- 25,700 New Mexico small businesses could qualify for tax credits to help them provide insurance to workers.
- Health insurers that cover children on their parents' policies must keep them on the policy until they turn 26. This requirement, which begins September 23, will help 13,000 young adults in New Mexico and the vast majority of insurers have opted in early and started covering adult children.
- Starting July 1, New Mexicans with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for six months will be eligible for a new transitional high-risk pool. The program is a bridge to 2014, when new health insurance exchanges are available.
There's a lot to the new health care law, and to try and help you better understand what it means for you, here are a few resources.
First, I recently sat down to answer questions from New Mexico members of MomsRising about how the new health care law will help families. To find out about some provisions that impact your family, watch the video at the top of this page.
Second, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today launched HealthCare.gov , a great website for learning about health insurance options and the new health care law.
As part of the new law, we have required that information about health insurance and the changes under health reform be easily accessible to the public. These details will be available on HealthCare.gov and a number of tools are already up and running. On the website, you can:
- Find insurance options that best fit your personal situation
- Learn about the new law and see a timeline of what's changing and when
- Learn about prevention and how to stay healthy
The new health care law means much needed relief for the one in four New Mexicans without health insurance and the thousands more who are under-insured. There are many benefits for those who already have insurance as well, including prevention services. Stay tuned for more updates as other provisions of the new health care law take effect.
I also wish you all the best on this 4th of July weekend. I hope you can take the time to be with your families and take a moment to remember all of the soldiers who cannot be with theirs. Use this occasion to give thanks for the country we have and to imagine the country we can build together.
