Health Care Reform a ‘Badge of Honor’ for Democrats: HHS Secretary

The 2010 health care reform law is a “badge of honor” for Democrats, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said September 4 during her address to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

During her speech, Sebelius detailed what she said are some of the achievements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

“Over 3 million previously uninsured young adults are now on their parents’ plans. That is what change looks like,” Sebelius said, referring to a reform law provision that requires group plans to extend coverage to employees’ adult children up to age 26.

Previously, employers typically ended such coverage at 18 or 19, or 23 or 24 in the case of children who were full-time college students.

The law offers tax credits to small employers to help offset health insurance premium costs, she said. Starting in 2014, small employers will be able to choose from an array of health care plans offered by insurers participating in state or federally facilitated insurance exchanges, she added.

The health care reform law also ended denial of coverage for pre-existing medical conditions and has ensured full coverage of preventive services, she said.

“That’s what change looks like,” she said.

In his acceptance speech last month at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said he would work to repeal the health care reform law if elected.

“We must rein in the skyrocketing cost of health care by repealing and replacing Obamacare,” Romney said.

Jerry Geisel writes for Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. Comment below or email editors@workforce.com.

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