Power Grid Blog
January 1, 2014
March 1, 2013 | Henry Claypool
Under the new health care law, important changes to the private health insurance markets are taking effect. Until now, insurance companies have been able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions or disability, which has barred many of us from either purchasing health coverage or fully using the insurance we have purchased. The new law already bans insurers from denying health care to young people under age 19, based on a pre-existing condition. In January 2014-about 10 months from now -the Affordable Care Act (ACA) extends its protections to all Americans. This change is long overdue. A quarter of a century ago, as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was being debated, advocates argued for a similar provision to be included, but Congress refused to include it. Even with the horrific stories of hardship, endured by individuals and families unable to secure health care insurance at any price, the insurance industry successfully kept these changes out of the ADA. Thankfully, in 2014, this form of discrimination will be part of America’s past.
Barriers to adequate, affordable health coverage created steep barriers to employment for millions of workers with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities and chronic conditions, as well. Businesses have been wary to hire those who may drive up insurance costs. Furthermore, because people with pre-existing conditions or disabilities are often denied health care insurance from private insurance companies, they have had to look to Medicare and Medicaid for coverage. While these are important programs, that provide critical health care to those in need, the consequence of forcing people into public health care programs has undermined the economic health and well-being of many Americans with disabilities and their families.
The eligibility requirements for Medicare and Medicaid are linked to Social Security’s definition of disability, which requires an individual to limit the amount of money they make to roughly $1,000 per month. While there is little information available on how many Americans forgo earnings from work, just to maintain their Medicare or Medicaid eligibility, we do know that there are many that do so; effectively being forced to choose between health care and employment. When President Clinton called on Congress to enact the Ticket to Work Act, he spoke a preeminent truth, “No one should have to choose between keeping health care and taking a job.”
It is time to make that truth come alive, by making certain our community understands that the ability to deny someone access to health insurance based on disability or pre-existing condition ends on January 1, 2014.
Comments
Submitted by April at 10:07 AM on March 15, 2013