With the Congressional passage of health reform last night, here are just a few examples of what this means for Wisconsin:
- Improve coverage for 3,798,000 residents with health insurance.
- Give tax credits and other assistance to up to 1,369,000 families and 123,900 small businesses to help them afford coverage.
- Improve Medicare for 877,000 beneficiaries, including closing the "donut hole."
- Extend coverage to 172,000 uninsured residents.
- Guarantee that 63,200 residents with pre-existing conditions can obtain coverage.
- Protect 10,300 families from bankruptcy due to unaffordable health care costs.
- Allow 455,000 young adults to obtain coverage on their parents’ insurance plans, complimenting existing Wisconsin law.
- Provide millions of dollars in new funding for 87 community health centers.
- Reduce the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and other health care providers by $433 million annually.
- http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1924:benefits-of-health-care-reform-district-by-district-impact&catid=169:legislation&Itemid=55 Although this is a bad day for the special interests and the status quo, it is a great day for our nation and a great day for the health of Wisconsin's working families.
