Copyrighted Image? DMCA | Health insurance consumers won't be discriminated against because of pre-existing conditions, can't be charged more because of gender and will be guaranteed a basic set of benefits under historic new federal regulations published Tuesday.
Think of them as the Patients' Bill of Rights that eluded former President Bill Clinton more than a decade ago. The regulations carry out the promises of President Barack Obama's health care reform law, which will extend health insurance coverage to 30 million people over a decade and outlaw some of the industry's most notorious practices. Health insurance companies, state regulators and consumer advocates have eagerly awaited these rules since Obama enacted the health care overhaul in March 2010. The details contained within the 331 pages of regulations are crucial for health insurance companies and states preparing for the new options... |