Health Care Reform: Great News for Children and Families! Hawaii Covering Kids sponsored a community forum on 26 August 2010 featuring two national speakers: Edwin Park from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Jennifer Sullivan from Families USA. Click here for a copy of the presentation slides in PDF format. Pre-Existing Condition Health Insurance Plan in Hawaii Rather than establish a state plan, Hawaii joined the federal government's high-risk pool. CLICK HERE for information on eligibility and how to apply. This link has additional details: Health Care Reform and Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions. KidsWell Campaign This campaign is dedicated to the successful implementation of federal health reform for America's children. Its web site monitors state and national health care reform implementation and opposition across the country. Drawing on a growing repository of more than 1,200 records from all fifty states and both public and original sources, the web site offers the ability to: * Track specific health reform provisions and children's coverage issues state by state; * Search across multiple states for health reform trends and developments; * Access state profiles providing baseline information on children’s coverage programs, insurance rates, and key political figures; * View snapshots of implementation and opposition activities; * Download weekly newsletters summarizing relevant developments; and * Access reports and other advocacy resources created by KidsWell partners. The web site focuses on health insurance programs and provisions under the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid, the Child Health Insurance Program, Health Benefit Exchanges, and health insurance regulatory reforms. It was designed to support child health advocates and also provides transparency and accountability on health care reform implementation more broadly, benefiting policy makers, researchers, and the public. Health Reform Hits Main Street Confused about how the new health reform law really works? This short, animated movie explains problems with the current health care system, changes that are happening now, and big changes coming in 2014. It is written and produced by Kaiser Family Foundation and features narration by Cokie Roberts, ABC News and NPR news commentator. Recent News Articles Secretary Sebelius Answers Your Questions on Health Insurance Exchanges at PBS News Hour, August 11, 2011. 10 Reasons Why Repealing Health Reform Would Harm Children at Say AHHH! Children's Health Policy Blog, January 10, 2011. Stay the course on health care reform at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, January 6, 2011. Administration Goes to Bat for Children With Pre-Existing Conditions at Say AHHH! Children's Health Policy Blog, October 13, 2010. Empowered Patient: New health care changes are only the beginning at CNN.com, September 23, 2010. Child Advocates Condemn Insurance Companies for Not Complying with Health Reform Law at FirstFocus.net, September 22, 2010. Banner Day for Nation's Children at Washington Post Political Blog Network, September 21, 2010. Lightening the Health Care Load for Small Businesses in New York Times, September 17, 2010. Hawaii Coverage Up to Age 26: Some health plans wait to implement new law in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 29, 2010. The real winners in health care reform: kids at OregonLive.com, July 20, 2010. Mom-and-pops could be in line for tax credits via health care reform in Honolulu Star-Advertiser, July 16, 2010. Big insurance changes for Californians with pre-existing conditions in San Jose Mercury News, June 11, 2010. Sick children get guarantee of health insurance in Chicago Tribune, June 7, 2010. HMSA Initiating Health Care Provision for Young Adults Early at HMSA.com, May 3, 2010. High-Risk Pool Programs Take a Step Forward at HealthReform.gov, April 30, 2010. New Health Care Law a Godsend for Lawyer and Family in McClatchy Newspapers, April 25, 2010. Kids Covered Longer in Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu, April 18, 2010. Early Wins for Children and Families in Health Care Reform at Center for Children and Families, April 13, 2010. Benefits to Real People, Real Lives in National Journal Online, April 12, 2010. How Will the Health Care Reform Law Affect Children With Pre-Existing Conditions? in New York Times, New York Times, April 11, 2010. Summary of Small Business Health Insurance Tax Credit Under PPACA (P.L. 111-148) by Congressional Research Service, April 5, 2010. What Does Health Care Reform Mean for Kids and Families? in Christian Science Monitor, March 22, 2010. Resource Web Sites Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Health Reform Center on Children and Families: Implementing Health Care Reform DHHS Updates: Health Reform Blog Families USA: Stand Up for Health Care Families USA: Health Care Reform Central First Focus: Children in Health Reform Kaiser Family Foundation: Health Care Reform Source Progressive States Network: State Implementation of Federal Reform Questions and Answers: Health Care Reform Explained (AARP) Urban Institute: Health Care Reform Publications Key Health Care Reform Dates for Children and Families Source: Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families 2010 States must maintain Medicaid and CHIP eligibility levels and enrollment procedures in effect on March 23, 2010 (until 2014, with some exceptions, for adults and 2019 for children). States can continue to expand eligibility or simplify enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP. Small employers receive tax credits to purchase employee health care premiums. States have option (under certain conditions) to provide CHIP to children of state employees. By July 1, 2010, a temporary, high-risk pool is established for qualified uninsured persons with pre-existing conditions (in place until 2014). Seniors begin to receive rebates/discounts toward drug coverage (with elimination of the �doughnut hole� by 2020). After September 23, 2010 (as a new health plan year begins): * Young adults can remain on their parents� health plan until age 26. * Children with insurance can no longer be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. * Insurance plans can no longer impose lifetime caps or restrictive annual limits on coverage, and cannot rescind coverage when a person becomes sick. * New plans must provide free preventive services to all enrollees. 2011-2013 By March 23, 2011, states provided federal grants to plan for and establish Exchanges. Medicaid physician payments increased, at federal cost, to Medicare levels for primary care services (for 2013 and 2014). Medicare beneficiaries receive annual exams and other preventive services at no cost. 2014 Most people required to purchase coverage or pay a tax penalty. New federal Medicaid floor of 133% of the FPL (based on adjusted gross income with 5 percent disregard) for adults and children. Medicaid and CHIP coverage for children still maintained. Enhanced federal financial assistance for states covering newly-eligible adults and for expansion states (those that already cover adults up to or above 100% of the FPL) covering childless adults. Individuals (including lawfully residing immigrants) and small businesses can purchase affordable coverage through state-based Exchanges; low- to moderate-income families receive premium tax credits and cost sharing subsidies. Children up to age 26 who "age-out" of foster care are eligible to continue receiving Medicaid. Insurance companies must cover the care of pre-existing conditions for both adults and children, can no longer set annual coverage limits (in addition to lifetime limits), and cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on health status. Exchanges must be financially self-sustaining by end of 2014. 2015 CHIP funded through September 30, 2015. If state runs out of federal funding, children can be enrolled in comparable Exchange plans. States receive a 23 percentage points increase in CHIP federal match rate (effective October 1, 2015).