It seems to me that most of the misconceptions people have about the Affordable Care Act can be attributed to a lack of knowledge as to what exactly is IN the law, possibly the result of constant exposure to propaganda from the likes of FOX News and Rush Limbaugh or because the administration and the mainstream media have simply failed to communicate the contents effectively.
If you have such a friend or relative, why not send them then to the source itself, to healthcare.gov, the official site dedicated to explaining every aspect of the ACA?
http://www.healthcare.gov/
Near the top, there are five major drop-down menus. Under the heading “The Health Care Law and You,” they will find not only the full text of the law, but a detailed summary of it, broken down by section. There’s also a timeline pinpointing when each of the changes in the system will be implemented. It also breaks down how the law will benefit people based on the categories to which they belong (young adults, women, small businesses, seniors, pregnant women, people with disabilities, individuals, and families with children).
It also has a link where consumers can receive answers to commonly asked questions about the Act.
There also is a place on the site dedicated to helping consumers find the best insurance options for them, based on where they live, their age, their employment status, their medical history, etc. This section is, of course, of interest primarily to those who don’t already have insurance or are, perhaps, looking for a better deal than the one they already have.
Another section is called “Get Help Using Insurance,” which lets consumers know their legal rights involving rate increases, the 80-20 medical loss ratio, and a basic profile of their own insurance company.
Then there is the “Comparing Care Providers” section, which allows consumers to compare physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and dialysis facilities in their area.
One of the best parts is the section entitled “Prevention and Wellness,” which lists all the preventative care services that will eventually be offered free of charge beginning in August 2012.
Finally, there is a section devoted to Medicare and how the ACA is helping seniors who have fallen into the dreaded “donut-hole” with their medications.
It seems to me that, after a tour through this site, all but the most diehard right-winger will be more fully informed as to what is actually contained in the law, as opposed to all the myths put out there for two years by the professional fear-mongers who would like nothing more than to keep the general populace who will be most helped by the law in the dark about how it will personally enrich their lives.
It won’t work for everyone, but it is a good start. Check it out for yourself as well.
Facts over fear, knowledge over ignorance!