There's been a lot of confusion about the healthcare reform legislation. We'd like to clear some things up for the benefit of the arts community.
What is healthcare reform all about when you get right down to it? Increased accountability. The fundamental basis of reform is simply to put a stop to the very worst practices currently carried out in the insurance industry.
When the law goes into full effect in 2014, insurance companies won't be allowed to:
- Set an annual or lifetime limit on benefits
- Deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
- Cancel your coverage when you get sick and need it the most.
- Discriminate or charge you a higher rate based on your gender or health status.
Most employer-sponsored plans already provided these protections, but over time, America’s workforce has evolved tremendously. Independent workers, such as artists, now make up 30% of the total workforce and individuals have been left to fend for themselves.
Independent workers stand to gain the most under the new healthcare law. Reform addresses the biggest obstacles that have previously kept independent workers from getting insured, like affordability and pre-existing conditions.
Isn’t buying insurance a personal choice? Accountability Goes Both Ways
What do I get out of this? What's In It for You?
