The Health Care Law: Rhetoric and Reality

With the often confusing political rhetoric about the new health care law, it’s nice to know there’s a website dedicated to helping people make sense of it.

Healthcareandyou.org is sponsored by nine well-known and reputable organizations, including the AARP, the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The site breaks down the law’s provisions by state and age, and also provides a timeline for how the new law will continue to be phased into effect.

The site includes updates and recent news items, as well as a glossary that explains lingo such as “doughnut hole” and “exchanges.” It also features a video that outlines some of what the new law already covers, including provisions that allow young adults to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 and that children can no longer be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010 and will be phased in through 2014. You can read more about it in “Financial Aid” from our archives.