Reports highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform released

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of Health Insurance Reform: The Case for Change, a series of state-by-state reports highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform. The reports are available now at www.HealthReform.gov.

“Families, seniors and businesses are all suffering under the health care status quo,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Our new reports demonstrate how health insurance reform will improve health care for all Americans.”

The reports provide specific details on the benefits of reform for each state. For example, under health insurance reform:

• 4.5 million California seniors would receive free preventive services.
• 565,000 Florida seniors would have their brand-name drug costs in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” halved.
• 24,000 Nevada small businesses could be helped by a small business tax credit to make premiums more affordable.
• 103,000 New Hampshire residents could qualify for premium tax credits to help them purchase health coverage.

The reports also note that if we do nothing, by 2019 the number of uninsured people will grow by more than 30 percent in 29 states and by at least 10 percent in every state. Without reform, the amount of uncompensated care provided will more than double in 45 states. Additionally, businesses in 27 states will see their premiums more than double and fewer people will have coverage through an employer if the status quo continues.