WV supporters of health care law mark 6-month anniversary
September 23, 2010 ·
Thursday was the six-month anniversary of the nation’s new health care law.
West Virginia supporters of the Affordable Care Act marked the day with comments about provisions of the law that are now in effect.
For all new policies, or those renewing after yesterday, insurers must provide coverage for young adults under their parents’ policies until age 26. Insurance companies can no longer drop policyholders for using benefits.
The law also eliminates caps on annual benefits and requires coverage for children with pre-existing conditions.
Among the members of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care speaking out yesterday was Rick Wilson of the American Friends Service Committee.
He says a number of factors have worked against the current administration. "I don't think President Obama was as lucky as President (Franklin D.) Roosevelt was. President Roosevelt's Depression came three years before he took office."
Wilson says that, despite polls that say the health law is unpopular, individual aspects of it remain popular.
Renate Pore, health care analyst for the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, says anyone planning to repeal the health care law would face some tough decisions.
She wonders if opponents of the 2010 law would return to denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. "Are they going to throw young adults off their parents' policies?", she asks. "Are they going to take health insurance away from children?"
Supporters say they'll step up their education efforts to reduce the confusion about the health reform law.