American Heart Association Hails Implementation Of Health Reform Regulations That Benefit Heart Disease And Stroke Patients

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Stroke;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 24 Jun 2010 - 0:00 PST

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The American Heart Association says new consumer protections announced this week at a White House ceremony will help ensure that health coverage is more affordable and available for heart disease and stroke patients. AHA Immediate Past-President Timothy Gardner, M.D. joined President Obama and children and adults with chronic diseases for the event which highlighted important regulations to implement provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that will help protect Americans from medical bankruptcy in the event of a catastrophic or chronic illness.

"These regulations will provide needed relief to families and individuals who have to make heart-wrenching decisions as they consider treatment options for life-threatening conditions," said Gardner. "These insurance reforms will remove barriers that prevented some children and adults with heart disease, stroke and other chronic illnesses from getting affordable, quality care."

The new regulations include:

- No Discrimination Against Children With Pre-Existing Conditions. Prohibits new health plans in all markets and grandfathered group health plans from denying access to and coverage of children with pre-existing conditions up to age 19.

- Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage. Prohibits insurers from imposing lifetime limits on benefits.

- Regulating Use of Annual Limits on Insurance Coverage. Regulates plans' use of annual limits to help ensure access to needed care in all group plans and all new individual plans.

- No More Insurance Cancellations. Insurers can no longer cancel a person's coverage because they become sick.

A survey commissioned by the American Heart Association found that nearly two-thirds of cardiovascular disease patients (64%) identified making health care costs more affordable as a priority to help those suffering with cardiovascular conditions, followed by making coverage more available to all Americans (44%) and more investment in heart disease and stroke prevention programs (43%).

Source:
American Heart Association

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