﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><ttl>60</ttl><title>Will Marry for Health Insuranc</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com</link><lastBuildDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 06:32:01 GMT</lastBuildDate><pubDate>Sat, 19 May 2012 06:32:01 GMT</pubDate><language>en</language><copyright /><itunes:subtitle> </itunes:subtitle><itunes:author /><itunes:summary /><description /><itunes:owner><itunes:name /><itunes:email>terrimcarlson@yahoo.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Arts" /><item><title>UPDATE!! Tips to help u get insured!!!</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2011/01/21/update-tips-to-help-u-get-insured.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;FONT size=5&gt;TIPS to getting healthinsurance with a preexisting condition.....how to play the game and win!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Hi Everyone, I wanted to share what I have learned in the past year. I had many "insiders" /compassionate people that e-mailed my website to help me. Heres&amp;nbsp;what I have found. As you know,&amp;nbsp;I could never get health insurance on my own with my genetic immune defect. If you followed my story in the news,you understand how severe my health issues are.&lt;BR&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;FONT color=#ff0000&gt;TIP 1...&lt;/FONT&gt;Interesting, In California and MOST states,they have laws that any small business person can get health insurance without being denied for preexisting conditions. In California its any business with 2 or more persons, other states its just a business of 1 person. The law states that you only have to be a small business, not that&amp;nbsp;the business&amp;nbsp;makes any&amp;nbsp;money ,turns a profit,or that it is a successful business. &lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;FONT color=#000000&gt;&lt;FONT color=#ff0000&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 22px" color=#000000&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;So.....This is all anyone needs to do to be insured ,no matter how sick you are. File a&amp;nbsp; fictitious name statement saying your in business.&amp;nbsp; It cost me $20 to file this form. I put my 27yo son on as my business partner. He then waived health insurance under&amp;nbsp;"our" business because he already has it through his employer . I then applied for healthinsurance under my new business and was approved NO questions ask. I gave a copy of the fictitious name statement to them and filled out the application,that had NO medical history questions on it and was accepted under my&lt;/FONT&gt; new business... no questions ask. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The cost for my insurance now? &lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;$340 a mo. CHEAP!!! compared to what I was paying. Its an Hmo with no deductibles small business plan, the rates are WAY less as well. Anyone can do this!!! START a small business and they cant deny you. My business is making a little money now but you can Sell clothes on e-bay,or do whatever,make 2 pennies a year in your business,it doesnt matter. Here's the other neat thing,a self employed small business cant deduct 100% of&amp;nbsp;the cost of insurance against any profit your business makes. So,say you say you make $500 a month, you can deduct every dime you pay &lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;for your health insurance against that&amp;nbsp;on your taxes. &lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;FONT color=#000000&gt;&lt;FONT color=#ff0000&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 14px" color=#000000&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Its a shame ,that we must play these games and that anyone can get insurance if they are really sick by simply filing a $20 piece of paper saying your a small business. You can list anyone as your business partner,a friend,family member,stranger and they cant deny you. In some states you don't even need a business partner....I know CRAZY but true.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;FONT color=#ff0000&gt;TIP 2...&lt;/FONT&gt;Most insurance companies now allow adding a domestic partner to your policy. This does NOT need to be someone of the same sex.&amp;nbsp;Unlike&amp;nbsp;marriage with its legal piece of paper,domestic partnership is not legally binding. One Idea, Offer a room for rent in your home,offer it at a reduced rate&amp;nbsp;to someone who&amp;nbsp;has great health insurance and would agree to add you as a domestic partner. You will be following the "rules" of a domestic partner as well. They are ,you must live together and share exspenses. You will be doing that!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;FONT color=#ff0000&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;TIP 3... &lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;FONT color=#000000&gt;Marry a military man !! I had so many men want to marry me that were is the military..why?? because they get 10k more per year for being a married man. So basically they get paid to Marry you! Its costs them nothing to add you to there policy and they have some of the best benefits in the US.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;Come on America,have compassion for others,share your wonderful healthinsurance with someone in need out of compassion. Its horrible that we live is the USA and must play these games to save our lifes&amp;nbsp;. How many think the senate and congress should have to give up there&amp;nbsp; sweet government healthinsurance plan&amp;nbsp;to finally feel the pain we do?? when it doesnt directly effect you, its hard to care for others.&amp;nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;I&amp;nbsp;will continue my fight&amp;nbsp;, this is my lifes work . I will continue to help others play the health insurance&amp;nbsp;game and WIN!!!!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Thanks for your continued support! Terri&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: large"&gt;&lt;SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;SPAN style="COLOR: #660033"&gt;&lt;FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16px"&gt;&lt;STRONG&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;/FONT&gt;</description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2011/01/21/update-tips-to-help-u-get-insured.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">e5a39329-f878-4f68-a491-df364bd8a140</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:56:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>How Will Health Insurance Reforms Affect Us?</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/09/06/how-will-health-insurance-reforms-affect-us.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 18px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #660033;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660033;"&gt;Hi Everyone, I wanted to attach this article that was sent to me . It was written by Arc and the disability policy collaboration. In a nut shell ,reading it was a shock . I think we all believed the practice of denying those of us with preexisting conditions would end in 2014. Not quick enough for most  but help never the less.....so we thought. Take a moment to read below. " &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Will all plans be affected by the changes to pre-existing conditions exclusions?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660033; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660033;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #660033; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No.  There is one exception.  &lt;em&gt;Individual health insurance plans&lt;/em&gt; are exempted.  Individual health insurance plans are policies that individuals buy on the open insurance market (they do not include employer sponsored plans)."&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 16px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: #660033;"&gt;I was  SHOCKED by this wording .This paragraph seems to indicate that insurance companies will still be able to deny individuals that apply for health insurance on there own. WHAT THE HECK?? isn't that the very people this was suppose to help?? I am STILL going to be discriminated by health insurance companies after 2014?? So whats changing? In California, they already allow"companies" that have people with preexisting conditions join there work plan. So, if you  don't have a job that offers health insurance and your not poor enough for medicare/medical your still screwed. The gov "new" temporary high risk pool is only offered to those who have not had health insurance for at least the past  6 months. Then, its at a cost of over $550 a month for 1 person. What ill person can live 6 months without health insurance and even if they could find a way ,how many could afford the $550mo plus Dr copays and Medications on top of that? Those with chronic conditions have alot of Dr copays and medication costs each month. Not to mention ,its a strain on most of us with conditions to work all day being ill. Bottom Line! The goverment is saying if you have a disability we must go back to the vicorian ages and get married because thats your only option for health insurance in the USA....or are they telling us we need to leave our country and go to Europe or Canada to be treated humanly and be cared for. The healthcare Reform bill did NOTHING for individuals that have a chronic illness and need to buy health insurance on there own.   Here is the full article &lt;a href="http://www.thearc.org/document.doc?id=2679&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br"&gt;www.thearc.org/document.doc?id=2679&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br&lt;/a&gt; /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;How Will Health Insurance Reforms Affect Us?&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;The new health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its regulations will bring about many significant improvements for people with disabilities.  The law will greatly improve coverage (who can get health insurance) and benefits (what services and products are covered).  It will do so largely by limiting or banning many health insurance company practices have been particularly harmful to people with disabilities.   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #660033; font-size: 13px;"&gt;When do the changes take effect? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Many changes of these will go into effect in a few weeks, while others take effect in 2014.  The changes described in this issue of National Policy Matters affect health insurance plans that begin on or after &lt;strong&gt;September 23, 2010&lt;/strong&gt;.  This means that when these changes affect you depends on &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;when your plan year begins&lt;/span&gt; (or policy year in the case of individual policies).  For example, if your employer plan year is July 1, 2010- July 1, 2011, then these requirements will not affect your plan until July 1, 2011. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #660033; font-size: small;"&gt;Will all health insurance plans be affected?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.  There are some exceptions.  One major type of exception is called “&lt;strong&gt;grandfathered&lt;/strong&gt;” plans.  Grandfathered plans are those that were in existence on &lt;strong&gt;March 23, 2010&lt;/strong&gt; when the ACA became law.  &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;As long as health plans do not change significantly&lt;/span&gt;, they will not be affected by these changes.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Which changes apply to which type of health insurance plans?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;The chart below summarizes which changes apply to all health insurance plans. Each of these is explained further in this issue.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 626px; height: 515px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="689"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #3d7ac2; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Pre-existing conditions  exclusions for persons under age 19&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered &lt;em&gt;individual &lt;/em&gt;plans.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #3c6a7b; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Lifetime limits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered &lt;em&gt;individual&lt;/em&gt; plans.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #54548c; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Annual limits&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered &lt;em&gt;individual&lt;/em&gt; plans. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #cb7034; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Dependent coverage through age 26&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except when the dependent has employer sponsored options &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: x-small;"&gt;(exception only through 2014).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #23436b; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Rescissions&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #7c5067; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Choice of Doctors&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered plans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #486f5a; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Access to Emergency Room&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered plans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #dc8e22; width: 272px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Appeals of  Denial of Claims&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
            &lt;td style="width: 393px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;All, except for grandfathered plans&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 624px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #3d7ac2; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS EXCLUSIONS FOR PERSONS UNDER AGE 19&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Millions of Americans have pre-existing conditions, which include a broad range of health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, seizures, asthma, allergies and many others.  People with disabilities are more likely than the general population to have pre-existing conditions and are frequently denied (or excluded from) health insurance coverage and/or benefits.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What is a pre-existing condition?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;A condition that was present before the date of enrollment for the coverage - whether or not any medical advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;How does the law change pre-existing conditions exclusions&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Health insurance companies will not be allowed to deny &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;enrollment&lt;/span&gt; or &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;specific benefits&lt;/span&gt; based on pre-existing conditions for individual under the age of 19.  For example, starting this month, insurance companies cannot deny enrollment to a child who needs heart surgery because the heart defect existed before coverage began.  In addition, the insurer will not be allowed to deny specific benefits (in this case heart surgery) needed to treat the pre-existing condition.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;When will changes to pre-existing conditions exclusions go into effect?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;For people under the age of 19, it will go into effect for health insurance plan years that begin on or after September 23, 2010.  For adults (persons 19 an older), it will go into effect for plans beginning on or after January 1, 2014.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Will all plans be affected by the changes to pre-existing conditions exclusions?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.  There is one exception.  &lt;em&gt;Individual health insurance plans&lt;/em&gt; are exempted.  Individual health insurance plans are policies that individuals buy on the open insurance market (they do not include employer sponsored plans).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What if I currently have inadequate individual insurance for my child with a pre-existing condition?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;If a family had bought individual coverage for a child with a preexisting condition and the policy had language excluding the costs of treatment for a pre-existing condition, then the family may need to cancel the coverage and purchase a new policy to get around the exemption.  The risk is that the price you pay may be more for the new plan. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;How many people will be affected by the changes to pre-existing conditions exclusions?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that 31,000 to 71,000 children who have a preexisting condition and are uninsured will now be eligible for coverage.  Many of these children are likely to have disabilities.  The regulations also increase coverage for an estimated 90,000 children who have insurance but those plans have a clause that excludes coverage or benefits for a preexisting condition.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 614px; height: 40px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #3c6a7b; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;LIFETIME LIMITS&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;People with many medical needs fear reaching lifetime and annual limits that some insurers put on plans.  For families that have high medical costs and reach the limits, the effects are often catastrophic to the family if they must pay out of pocket for their medical costs. They then face insurmountable medical debt and/or being unable to continue needed treatment.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What are lifetime limits?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;A lifetime limit is the total amount of money that a health insurance company will pay for your health care over the lifetime of your policy.  According to HHS, the average lifetime limit is $4.7 million. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;How common are lifetime limits in current policies?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Currently, the majority of health insurance plans apply lifetime limits,&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;which affects about 102 million people.  However, this varies by type of plan:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;63% of large employer plans &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;52% of small employer plans&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;89% of individual policies   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How will the law change lifetime limits?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;The use of lifetime limits in &lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;health plans and insurance policies issued or renewed on or after September 23, 2010 &lt;/span&gt;will be prohibited.  Plans cannot establish a dollar amount lifetime limit on the benefits for any individual.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Do the lifetime limit changes apply to all health insurance plans?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.  There is one exception.  &lt;em&gt;Individual health insurance&lt;/em&gt; plans in existence prior to March 23, 2010 plans are exempted. Individual health insurance plans are policies that individuals buy on the open insurance market (they do not include employer sponsored plans).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Do the lifetime limits changes apply to Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA) or Medical Savings Accounts (MSA)? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.   FSAs and MSAs are generally not considered group health insurance.  These programs are not affected by this provision of the Affordable Care Act&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What if I have already hit my lifetime limit?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;If you are otherwise eligible for the health insurance, you must be notified that the lifetime limits no longer apply and you should be given an opportunity to enroll.  You must be given written notice and have a minimum of 30 days to enroll.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 624px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #54548c; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ANNUAL LIMITS&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;What are annual limits?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;An annual limit is the total amount of money that a health insurance company will cover for your care in one calendar year.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How common are annual limits in current policies?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Currently, a minority of health insurance plans apply annual limits&lt;strong&gt;, &lt;/strong&gt;which affect&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;about 17 million people.  According to HHS, annual limits are used by the following types of plans:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;8% of large employer plans&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;14% of small employer plans&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;19 % of individual policies&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How will the law change annual limits?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;The use of annual limits will be phased out over the next three years and end in 2014.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How will the annual limit changes be phased in?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;To limit premium increases, the regulations implement a three-year phase-in of the restrictions on annual limits of &lt;strong&gt;essential benefits&lt;/strong&gt;. The restrictions, which apply on an individual-by-individual basis, are as follows:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010 through September 23, 2011, the annual limits on the dollar value of benefits may not be less than $750,000 &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2011 through September 23, 2012, the annual limits on the dollar value of benefits may not be less than $1.25 million &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2012 through January 1, 2014, the annual limits on the dollar value of benefits may not be less $2 million &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What are essential benefits?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;The law includes these categories of essential benefits:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Prescription drugs and laboratory services&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Mental health and substance use disorder services including behavioral health treatment&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Preventative and wellness services and chronic disease management &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Pediatric services including dental and vision care&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Maternity and newborn care&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Future regulations will be developed to define these terms.  How these terms are defined is very important for people with disabilities.  The Arc and UCP will work to make sure that rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices definitions includes a broad listing of therapies that might needed by people with disabilities as well as durable medical equipment and other services and supports.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Do annual limits changes apply to Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSA) or Medical Savings Accounts (MSA)? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.   FSAs and MSAs are generally not considered group health insurance.  These programs are not affected by this provision of the Affordable Care Act.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Do the lifetime limit changes apply to all health insurance plans?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.  As with pre-existing exclusions, there is one exception.  &lt;em&gt;Individual health insurance plans&lt;/em&gt; are exempted.  Individual health insurance plans are policies that individuals buy on the open insurance market (they do not include employer sponsored plans).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 619px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #cb7034; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #ffffff; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;DEPENDENT COVERAGE&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Many children with disabilities are covered under their parents’ health insurance plans as dependents.  One study found that over half of children with special needs were covered by employer sponsored insurance and about 30% were covered by Medicaid.  Continuing to have access to insurance for children with disabilities is critical to maintaining good health given that many have secondary medical conditions requiring medication or other treatments.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How does the law change dependent coverage?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dependents will now be able to continue to be covered under their parents’ health insurance plans until they turn 26. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Why extend the age of dependent coverage? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Many young adults are uninsured.  They often do not have access to employer provided health insurance during the years they are transitioning to adulthood and starting jobs.  This is especially true for young adults with disabilities.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Do employers have to provide family or dependent coverage? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No.  But, if they do they offer dependent coverage, they must offer coverage to enrollees’ adult children until age 26.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Are all dependents eligible?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;The term “dependent” is meant to be broad and include young adults even if the young adult no longer lives with his or her parents, is not a dependent on a parent’s tax return, or is no longer a student.  It applies to both married and unmarried children.  (although, if a dependent is married, their spouse or children would not be eligible for coverage).  Until 2014, if a dependent has other employer sponsored coverage the parent’s plan does not have to cover them. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Are any insurers implementing the dependent coverage changes early?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Yes.  About 65 companies are offering coverage for young adults who age off their parents’ insurance before September or the plan year.  Check with your insurance broker or your employer to see if your insurance company is offering early coverage.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;How will I know how to enroll my dependent child who is under age 26? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Parents should watch for a notice from their insurance company or benefits administrator.  Plans must provide both a notice of the benefit and at least a 30 day period to enroll.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Will all dependents under age 26 be treated the same?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Yes.  For example, premiums and benefits for a 17-year old dependent would be no different than those for his 25-year old brother under their parents’ plan.  The plan could not charge more for the same coverage or offer different plans for these dependents.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Are there any new tax benefits for dependent coverage through age 26?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Yes.  The value of any employer-provided health coverage for an employee's child is excluded from the employee’s income through the end of the taxable year in which the child turns 26.  This tax benefit applies regardless of whether the plan is required by law to extend health care coverage to the adult child or the plan voluntarily extends the coverage.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Where can I get more information?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thearc.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hhs.gov%2fociio%2fregulations%2fadult_child_faq.html&amp;amp;srcid=12744&amp;amp;srctid=1&amp;amp;erid=737708"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/adult_child_faq.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 625px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #23436b; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ffffff;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESCISSIONS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Every year, thousands of Americans lose their health insurance when they get sick.  People with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by this harmful health insurance practice, known as a “rescission.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What is a rescission?&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;A rescission is when an insurance company voids your health plan from the start of coverage.  It usually happens usually when an insurer retroactively cancels your policy when you become sick.  Insurers often claim that you had a pre-existing condition or they find some reason to say they would not have offered coverage to you in the first place.  This can happen even if it was an unintentional mistake in the paperwork made by you or your employer.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;How does the law change rescissions?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Rescissions will be prohibited.  Insurance companies won’t be allowed to drop your coverage when you get sick except in the case of fraud or intentional misrepresentation.   The insurers must provide at least 30 days advance notice to give people time to appeal the decision.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Will all plans be affected by the rescission changes?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Yes, both new and grandfathered plans are covered.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 623px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #7c5067; width: 735px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ffffff;"&gt;CHOICE OF DOCTORS &lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;How does the law protect choice of doctors? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;There are three important changes:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Insurance companies cannot assign a person a primary care doctor.  The person can choose who they want within the network of providers (if that is part of the plan)&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Parents can choose any participating pediatrician to be their child’s primary care doctor. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Plans are prohibited from requiring a referral for obstetrical or gynecological care&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Do the choice of doctor changes apply to all plans?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;No, grandfathered plans do not have to include these protections. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 626px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #486f5a; width: 735px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ffffff;"&gt;ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CARE&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;How does the law make emergency care more accessible? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Plans will not be able to charge higher copayments or coinsurance for emergency services that are obtained out of network.  Currently many plans charge more if you have an emergency and do not get prior approval for care or go to the closest emergency room even if it is not in your plan network. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Who decides what is an emergency?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;It is generally what “a person with average knowledge of health and medicine would think the injury or situation would, without immediate attention, cause serious harm to the person.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;Do the new emergency care changes apply to all plans?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No, grandfathered plans do not have to include these protections. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table style="width: 629px; height: 64px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"&gt;
    &lt;tbody&gt;
        &lt;tr style="height: 25px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;td style="background-color: #dc8e22; width: 738px;" valign="top"&gt;
            &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #ffffff;"&gt;APPEALS OF DENIAL OF HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
            &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
            &lt;/td&gt;
        &lt;/tr&gt;
    &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Currently there is a patchwork of protections that apply to some plans in some states.  Some types of health plans are regulated at the state level and others at the federal level and they offer varying degree of protections to consumers.  For example, a person with cerebral palsy has few recourses when he is denied coverage for a specific type of therapy that has been recommended by his doctor.  Under the new law, he will have more opportunity to appeal the health insurance company’s denial of his claim. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What changes are made to strengthen appeal rights?&lt;/span&gt; &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;The new law requires greater consistency and puts standards in place to make the protections more uniform.  The ACA makes changes to both the internal appeal process that an individual has with their insurance company and provides for an external appeal to an independent decision maker. &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;My plan already allows me to appeal a decision how is this different? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;New health plans must now have an internal appeals process that meets these standards:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Allows consumers to appeal when a health plan denies a claim for a covered service; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Gives consumers detailed information about the grounds for the denial of claims; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Requires plans to notify consumers about their right to appeal and instructs them on how to begin the appeals process; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Ensures a full and fair review of the denial; and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Provides consumers with an expedited appeals process in urgent cases.&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: 13px;"&gt;What is external review?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Being able to go outside the plan and have the conflict decided by an independent person.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What standards must they meet?  &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;These standards were established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). States are encouraged to make changes in their external appeals laws to adopt these standards before July 1, 2011. The NAIC standards call for:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;External review of plan decisions &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Clear information &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Expedited access to external review in some cases &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Health plans must pay the cost of the external appeal&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Review by an independent body&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Emergency processes for urgent claims&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Final decisions must be binding&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;If state laws don’t meet these standards, consumers in those states will be protected by comparable federal external appeals standards.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #752341; font-size: small;"&gt;Do these changes apply to grandfathered plans? &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;No, they only apply to new plans.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;What is the federal government doing to help consumers understand these changes? &lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;The new Consumer Assistance Grants program will provide nearly $30 million in new resources to help States and Territories educate consumers about their health coverage options, empower consumers, and ensure access to accurate information. Grants will be made available to support States’ efforts to establish or strengthen consumer assistance programs that provide direct services to consumers with questions or concerns regarding their health insurance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #752341;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Summary&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Many important changes to our private health insurance system are upon us.  People with disabilities stand to benefit greatly from improved access to coverage and enhanced benefits.  As direct service providers, The Arc and UCP’s chapters and affiliates should be prepared to help our constituents take advantage of the many health insurance reforms.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;For additional information see:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Health Care.Gov - section for People with Disabilities:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thearc.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.healthcare.gov%2fforyou%2fdisabilities%2findex.html&amp;amp;srcid=12744&amp;amp;srctid=1&amp;amp;erid=737708"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;http://www.healthcare.gov/foryou/disabilities/index.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Health Care.Gov - Find Insurance options (select “for people with disabilities”)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thearc.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2ffinder.healthcare.gov%2f&amp;amp;srcid=12744&amp;amp;srctid=1&amp;amp;erid=737708"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;http://finder.healthcare.gov/&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.thearc.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.hhs.gov%2fociio%2fregulations%2findex.html&amp;amp;srcid=12744&amp;amp;srctid=1&amp;amp;erid=737708"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"&gt;http://www.hhs.gov/ociio/regulations/index.html&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description><category>HEALTH</category><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/09/06/how-will-health-insurance-reforms-affect-us.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">c6b86b5a-9b73-4c0a-8367-541421b8814a</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:44:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Update!!</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/05/13/update.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>Hello my dear followers,&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
              I wanted you to know that I have read your e-mails requesting an update. I am sorry its been awhile. I have been very busy. As you can see on my website, I now endorse Vemma. This is a product I was already using to help my pain prior to my story coming out in the media. I am telling you this because I have been considering creating a small business to then channel the money they pay me through it. How will this help me? Strangely, In the United states you can create a small business, in California it has to be with two or more people, Then WALA!! insurance companies must take you ....sick or not and without charging you more. Its less then what I currently pay on Cobra. I am considering creating this business with my son. After the Vemma contract ends next year. I have heard in many of your e-mails,that this is a VERY common "secret' practice.. I mean selling small crap and calling it a business just to get the life saving gift of insurance. Maybe I will sell lemonade on the corner of my block. Can you believe we live in the US we must sneak around just to buy what other healthy people or sick people get through there jobs or spouses? Dumb I tell you!&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I had someone say that, I am ruining the sanctity of marriage with my platform. I have always stated that I want Love and good health insurance. I would also agree its not right to marry for insurance. So why does the US not give middle class ill people other options??? I was never for or against the current healthcare reform bill. What I am for is insurance companies not being able to deny people with preexisting conditions and affordable premiums for those of us that are ill and can least afford to pay more. Why should we have to chose to buy health insurance or live on the streets.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The dating site has turned into a nightmare. The legalities of such a site has stunted its creation. Lawyers say I could be sued by insurance companies for encouraging insurance fraud.... I was not! and the legalities of someone meeting someone on the site that turns out to be a killer or stalker or something. Geeze, I was trying to help people,offer it for free and yet again,they don't make it easy. Anyone have any suggestions?? I don't want to be sued.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
I will try not to may it so long since we chat again. My e-mail is flooded but I will respond to all blog comments.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Good health to you all! xo&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
       </description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/05/13/update.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">1fdfd2d3-bbc2-4ba8-a9a4-65798f784411</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 May 2010 02:55:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Temporary High Risk Pool</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/22/temporary-high-risk-pool.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>&lt;STRONG&gt;I was just given the below information on the temporary high risk pool to be set up in the next 90 days. Seems I fall through the cracks once again. You have to have not had insurance for 6 months in order to be on it. I am on Cobra for one more year. If I lived 6 months without insurance to qualify for the&amp;nbsp;Temporary high-risk pool&amp;nbsp; I will be bankrupt by then. The rest of the help comes in 2014....Geez also to late for me..what the hell???&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Temporary high-risk pool&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/STRONG&gt;People without insurance because of pre-existing conditions will be able to tap into a temporary, high-risk pool that will be available within 90 days -- now that the bill has passed -- and be effective until the new health insurance rules take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. Any U.S. citizen or legal immigrant who has pre-existing conditions and who has been uninsured for at least six months will be able to tap into this temporary, high-risk pool. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Both the Senate bill and the reconciliation bill provide the same provisions. All will receive subsidized premiums. The pool will be established based on the rates for a standard population and may vary no more than 4 to 1 due to age. Maximum cost sharing will be limited to current Health Savings Account (HSA) law: $5,950 for an individual and $11,900 for a family in 2010.&lt;BR&gt;</description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/22/temporary-high-risk-pool.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">bf89e423-5d3a-46e6-999a-c3b4b5e60b4a</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:15:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>HEALTHCARE REFORM VOTE UPDATE!!!!!</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/22/healthcare-reform-vote-update.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>Hello to all of you!&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;I spent all 12 hours watching the health care reform&amp;nbsp;debate yesterday. I am happy and sad all at the same time. I yelled and cheered at my Tv as if I was watching the super bowl. I don't like every part of the bill but of course I like the part of them not being able to deny people with preexisting conditions insurance. I have been very&amp;nbsp;careful not to endorse this bill over the past couple of months because I have mixed feelings about it. As President Obama said, its not a perfect bill. However, its always been my fear that if this bill didn't pass it would be another 20 years before hardworking,&amp;nbsp;ill people like me can get help.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;One thing that surprised me is that the new bill immediately bans &lt;SPAN id=lw_1269262816_0 class=yshortcuts&gt;insurance companies&lt;/SPAN&gt;&amp;nbsp;from denying children with preexisting conditions but the law for adults doesn't go into effect until 2014. G&lt;SPAN class=UIStory_Message&gt;overnment subsidies will not take effect until 2014 Thats&amp;nbsp;horrible and shameful!!! That will be to late&amp;nbsp;for &lt;SPAN id=lw_1269262816_1 class=yshortcuts&gt;many people&lt;/SPAN&gt; who will be bankrupt by then. Which is why I feel the &lt;SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1269262816_2 class=yshortcuts&gt;dating site&lt;/SPAN&gt; will still help others for the next 4 years until the plan&amp;nbsp;goes into&amp;nbsp;effect.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;My other concern,as quoted by John McCain Appearing on ABC's "Good Morning America," this morning. McCain, who was Obama's GOP rival in the 2008 presidential campaign, said that "outside the Beltway, the American people are very angry. They don't like it, and we're going to repeal this." So, with a court battle likely,this may or may not ever take effect.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;So, I will continue to fight till we know we get the help we need. What do you think?? Do you have any ideas how I can continue to help others?? &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;</description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/22/healthcare-reform-vote-update.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">25d79c85-748e-4707-8657-b77a7d1d08fd</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:02:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Healthcare Reform Bill</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/16/healthcare-reform-bill.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>Hello Everyone,&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I can finally breath enough to start writing on my blog.&amp;nbsp; I will also do my best to answer your questions. Please keep in mind that if you send any inappropriate questions, they will not be answered or posted on my blog.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;I wanted to make some comments on the health care reform bill due to be voted on this week. I am often ask how I feel about the bill. I have to admit, I ,like most of America have not read it all the way&amp;nbsp;through to take a stance one way or another. Or course I endorse them forbidding insurance companies&amp;nbsp;from denying people with pre existing conditions and subsidies for people with lower incomes&amp;nbsp;so they can also afford insurance.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;There are many things in the bill that I don't agree with . However, my concern is if it doesn't pass it will be another year's before people like me could buy insurance just like&amp;nbsp;everyone else. The bill is a very mixed blessing. Past administration's have not made health care a priority so there is no reason to think they will if this does not pass. My hope, when backed up against the wall is, I hope it passes and then when they realize much about the bill is not working the Republican majority in the next couple years will amend and fix the areas that aren't..At least ,thats my hope. I am not in support of Democrats&amp;nbsp;, Republicans or this bill. I support everyone like me that works hard,pay taxes, is ill and cant get health insurance.&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;How do you feel??</description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/03/16/healthcare-reform-bill.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">6820c26d-7fc2-4919-a154-18dd4334c392</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:41:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Why I will Marry for Health Insurance</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/01/25/why-i-will-marry-for-health-insurance.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>I am a 45 yo divorced&amp;nbsp; women in &lt;SPAN id=lw_1264450596_0 class=yshortcuts&gt;San Diego&lt;/SPAN&gt;.&amp;nbsp; I am currently on Cobra. I am also disabled with a severe genetic immune defect .&amp;nbsp; As a married mother of 4 children, I spent the last 25 years at home raising my children. Now, I am faced with being divorced, disabled ,and Cobra running out. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Where will I go??? I qualify through my Dr as disabled. I would qualify for medical , SSI or SSDI but cant get it . WHY?? Because being home &lt;SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1264450596_2 class=yshortcuts&gt;raising children&lt;/SPAN&gt; and not working I didn't pay into the fund to collect SSDI from the state of California. Then, I do qualify for SSI except for one problem. They say I have to many ASSETS. I have a small&amp;nbsp; divorce settlement from my 24 year marriage that I&amp;nbsp; try and live on&amp;nbsp; as well as a Pastime Job that just covers the cost of my current health care.&amp;nbsp; Cobra costs me $400 and my medications and Dr co pays another $100 a mo . The government wont let me help myself. I need to first run out of money in my account and thus be on the streets&amp;nbsp; first. Money for the most part that is paying for &lt;SPAN id=lw_1264450596_3 class=yshortcuts&gt;Health insurance&lt;/SPAN&gt; .&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Because I don't have access to &lt;SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1264450596_6 class=yshortcuts&gt;affordable health care,have a pre existing&amp;nbsp; condition&lt;/SPAN&gt;and the rules for assets are capped at 2k for any assistance, I will be out of money and going to YOU and &amp;nbsp;the government for help years sooner then if I was offered affordable Health ,Available health care .&amp;nbsp;They wont let me help myself. I have never taken a penny from the government. My ex husband actually works for&amp;nbsp; the State of California and “we” paid taxes for 30 years.&amp;nbsp; &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;Cobra is almost over ,what will I do???.&amp;nbsp; Frankly, I will be better off&amp;nbsp; if I run out of money and suck off the American tax payers and there is something WRONG with that. Ssi i provides $800 a month plus I would get full medical benefits. I would also get food stamps.&amp;nbsp; Why should I continue to suffer each day with whether to eat or pay health insurance,work my ass off and pay taxes...for what????. Shame on all of you that make rules when some of us qualify but fall through the cracks. Please help me with affordable,available health insurance. &lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;The people who are the sickest need the health care the most. Also, people who have a small savings in the bank aren't rich they are trying to survive so YOU don't have to support us. HELP ME HELP YOU!!!! Thank you Terri Carlson&amp;nbsp; &lt;SPAN style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #0066cc 1px dashed; CURSOR: hand" id=lw_1264450596_7 class=yshortcuts&gt;&lt;/SPAN&gt;</description><category>Healthcare</category><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/01/25/why-i-will-marry-for-health-insurance.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">6cc52df2-fe2a-456d-90e2-32323f4c0a22</guid><pubDate>Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:18:00 GMT</pubDate></item><item><title>Welcome</title><link>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/01/23/welcome.aspx?ref=rss</link><dc:creator>terri</dc:creator><description>Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.</description><comments>http://blog.willmarryforhealthinsurance.com/2010/01/23/welcome.aspx#Comments</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">be1546cb-e9dc-4a27-8f9f-0b6d3f03d2f4</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:28:25 GMT</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
