Medical Bill Relief on the Way in 2010
News and debate about the health care overhaul dominated the headlines right down to the end of 2009.
And while a final bill hasn’t been passed yet, there is a good chance that it may be fully approved in early 2010. But what does this mean for you and your medical bills in the new year?
While many of the most dramatic changes won’t take place for three or four years, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers a glimpse possible medical bill relief that people could see this year if the bill is passed.
Most of the immediate medical bill relief would come for Medicare patients with high prescription drug bills.
Because different versions of the bill from the House and Senate have not been combined yet, it’s still too early to say exactly what could happen. But the bills do share some similarities, From the story:
- The prescription drug coverage gap could shrink by $500, and drug companies would have to reduce the prices for on brand name drugs for anyone in the gap.
- Coverage may be more easily available to sick people who can’t find health insurance.
- Children could stay under their parents coverage longer, possibly until the age of 27.
- Insurance companies may have more difficulty pulling your coverage. Instead of dropping you willy-nilly, they will only be able to rescind coverage in cases of fraud.
We’ll keep you posted as the legislation moves forward.