The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a website that offers basic information on health care insurance options based on such factors as age, health status and state of residence. The website is at www.healthcare.gov

Currently, there are more than 1,000 private insurance companies' plans listed on the website. In addition, there is information on public insurance plans including Medicare, Medicaid and new state and national high-risk insurance pools that provide coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

Through the website, you can access the websites of insurance providers and obtain the providers' customer service telephone numbers. In addition, the website links to summaries of the insurance plans' benefits and you can check to see if your doctors are part of the plans. You can also find out about the prescription drug coverage offered by the plans. The website will add pricing data in October, including premium costs, co-payments and deductibles.

The website is also a resource for comparing quality of care at hospitals, learning about the health care overhaul law and obtaining wellness tips. According to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the website is intended to help consumers until 2014 when much of the new health care reform law takes effect.

I encourage you to browse the website to learn what information is there that may be of use to you now and in the future. Consider bookmarking www.healthcare.gov so you can easily find the website when you need health care information.

Bill Kadereit
President, National Retiree Legislative Network

WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT

Good morning,
Last week, we launched a first-of-its-kind website that makes it easier to find health care coverage and clearly explains how new rules like the Patient’s Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act will benefit you, your family, or your business.

While technology has made it easier to search for plane tickets or to find the right apartment, shopping for private health insurance plans has remained difficult for too long. HealthCare.gov takes some of the mystery out of shopping for health insurance.

Just answer a few easy questions, and HealthCare.gov will provide all the coverage options that are right for you, including public and private health insurance tailored to your age, location, and health needs. The site also helps Americans make informed decisions about health care coverage by offering easy to understand information about new benefits and protections for individuals, families and employers.

The site is easy to use and comprehensive, and it’s only going to get better. Throughout the site, there are places to ask questions and give feedback, and the team at the Department of Health and Human Services will be responding to common questions and updating content based on your feedback. In October, the site will include information on the price of health insurance plans and we’ll be adding other new features like tools to help you stay healthy and a database of hospital quality ratings.

The launch of HealthCare.gov is just one of many steps we have taken to strengthen the health care system for all Americans since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Here are a few others:

• Parents can now rest a little easier knowing that insurance companies will be prohibited from denying children coverage because of a preexisting condition or putting a cap on the amount of benefits that will be paid in lifetime;

• Young adults up to age 26 without insurance will be able to get on their parent’s plan;

• Seniors hitting a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the “donut hole” are getting $250 checks; and

• Small businesses are now eligible for tax credits to help them afford coverage for employees.

But there is much more to be done. Be sure to check out HealthCare.gov regularly to stay current about benefits available to you and informed about what’s ahead.

Sincerely,
Nancy-Ann DeParle
Director, White House Office of Health Reform

P.S. Tomorrow, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will be answering your questions about HealthCare.gov and the Affordable Care Act at 12 noon EDT. You can submit your questions head of time at: http://www.youtube.com/whitehouse

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