Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Key parts of a controversial health care reform law took effect Thursday even as Republicans continued complaining about the high cost for the American public.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law six months ago, now restricts the authority of insurance companies to put lifetime limits on health benefits of consumers.

It also forbids insurers from denying health benefits to children with pre-existing conditions.

Another round of requirements under the law takes effect next month, all of them seeking to extend health benefits to a larger number of people.

Even as the law took effect Thursday, Republican leaders were announcing an agenda that would repeal many provisions of the law.

House Republicans said their “Pledge to America” represented “governing principles” they would follow if they regain a majority in Congress during the November elections.

Many of the principles, including one on health care reform, are designed to curb government spending.

The health care principle calls on Congress to “Repeal the Obama health care bill, replacing it with Republican proposals, including limits on malpractice lawsuits.”

Obama seemed to anticipate Republican statements against his heath care reform law when he held a televised meeting Wednesday evening with residents of Falls Church, VA, on the back porch of a local home.

“The single biggest driver of our deficit is the ever-escalating costs of health care. . . . It was bankrupting families, companies and our government,” Obama said.

Economists say it will take years to determine whether Republicans or Democrats are right on how the health care law will affect the national deficit.

Republicans say it will drive up the deficit. Democrats say it will lower insurance premiums for everyone, thereby driving down the deficit.

Recent public opinion polls show Americans are evenly split on whether they favor or oppose the law.

Obama used folksy anecdotes from members of the audience to demonstrate the importance of his health care reform program.

A Jacksonville, FL, woman said she was grateful the new law would relieve her of the obligation to pay for eye surgeries her son is likely to need.

A Keene, NH, teacher said she was disqualified from getting the cancer treatment she needs until the new law abolished the right of insurance companies to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

Other provisions of the law that took effect Thursday require:

• Health insurers must allow the children of covered parents to stay on the family policy until they are 26 years old;
• Health plans cannot charge deductibles, co-payments or co-insurance for routine preventive services such as cancer screenings, vaccinations and counseling;
• Insurers must grant direct access to obstetricians, gynecologists and pediatricians without referrals from other doctors;
• Insurers can no longer cancel health policies retroactively without first proving fraud;
• Patients now have a right to appeal their denial of insurance benefits to an independent reviewer;
• Patients can choose which emergency room they want to use without penalty and without getting prior approval from their health insurers.

The Obama administration has set up a Web site for public information on the new health care reform law. It can be found at www. healthcare.gov.

View full post on All Stories