Making sure health care reform lives up to its promise

Shortly after health reform legislation passed Congress, health policy makers began handing out lists of what average folks will get from health reform. While the list is far from comprehensive, it includes lots of things that are pretty good, such as (to quote just one policy maker) “getting rid of pre-existing condition exclusions and discrimination; no longer allowing insurance companies to massively raise premiums; banning insurance companies from dropping your coverage when you get sick; reduces costs; eliminates cost-sharing for preventive services; and allows young adults to stay on their parents insurance through age 26”. To make sure health care reform lives up to its promise, Raising Women's Voices is implementing a combined state and federal strategy. The speaker will address specific issues that have been identified as needing watchdogging and consumer input, such as the inclusion of family planning in the suite of preventive services that are available without cost-sharing. The speaker will also share timely information about the current strategies being used, and how effective the work has been so far.