Health reform: What it means to you right now

If you have a preexisting health condition
Starting this year, insurance companies can no longer exclude coverage for preexisting health conditions. They also cannot suddenly cancel your policy.

If you have kids at home in their early 20s
Beginning this year, they can be covered under your health plan up to age 26 -- no matter their status, in school, out, working or idle.

If you have a business with 25 or fewer workers
You may be able to claim a tax credit of up to 35% of the cost of providing health insurance for your employees.

If you are a senior citizen on Medicare
Those in Medicare's prescription coverage gap will get a $250 rebate this year.

And what happens next?
2011: More money to community health centers treating lower-income and uninsured people.

2012: Nonprofit insurance co-ops established.

2013: New 2.3% sales tax on medical devices -- but many items are exempt.

2014: Requires citizens and legal residents to have health insurance, except in cases of financial hardship, or pay a fine to the IRS.

Source:freep.com/

Health-care reform is now law

The president has signed the bill. I know this has confused some, but health-care reform is now law. The Senate's vote on the reconciliation fixes will modify that law, but President Obama just signed a universal health-care structure into law in the United States of America.

Source:washingtonpost.com/

With stroke of a pen, Obama signs health reform into law

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKBW/ABC) -- President Obama signed in to law Tuesday the much debated and controversial Health Insurance Reform bill.

Multimedia Watch The Video After a year of negotiations, debate and political drama, President Obama today signed the historic health care bill that reshapes care for millions of Americas while setting up a divisive battle with Republicans that's expected to spill into the November elections and beyond.

Senior adviser David Axelrod says bill's "reality is different from caricature.""Today, after almost a century of trying. Today, after over a year of debate. Today, after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America," Obama said to a standing ovation.

"With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all the game playing that passes for governance in Washington, it's been easy to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing," the president said. "It's easy to succumb to the sense of cynicnsm about what's possible in this country, but today we're asserting that essential truth... that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations."

"We are a nation that faces its responsibilities and faces its challenges," Obama added. "Here in this country we shape our own destiny. ... That's what makes us the United States of America."

The attendees chanted "Fired up, ready to go" -- Obama's campaign slogan -- as the president and Vice President Biden arrived.

"Ladies and gentleman, to state the obvious, this is a historic day," Biden said to a cheering crowd before the president took the podium.

Obama and Biden today were joined by Americans whose stories have touched the president and Democrats who voted "yes" for the health care bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is credited with bringing together enough Democrats to make the health care vote possible in the House, also attended. As Obama acknowledged Pelosi today, the crowd chanted, "Nancy, Nancy."

Vicki Reggie Kennedy, the wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, was also present at the event. In an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Kennedy said her husband would've been "exhilarated" and "thrilled" by the passage of the bill. Sen. Kennedy, who was behind many landmark health bills, made health care reform the focal point of his long Senate career.

Proponents of the legislation say the health care bill will impact all Americans positively, even those who currently have health insurance.

"I think every American is going to have a more secure relationship with their insurance companies as a result of this because there are a series of protections that will be implemented over time that are important to people," White House senior adviser David Axelrod said on "Good Morning America" today.

Source:wkbw.com/