Why the health reform law is important: New numbers on rising health costs

Health care costs for a family of four covered by workplace health insurance will exceed $20,000 for the first time ever in 2012, according to a new study released by Millman, a firm that consults with companies on employee…

Congress might help Americans pay for college…by raiding health services?

The interest rate for some federally subsidized student loans could double this summer unless Congress acts. Unfortunately, the House’s solution has been to raid funds from the health reform legislation.

Obviously we want to prevent a spike in the cost…

Graduating students have more health coverage options than ever before

Before the Affordable Care Act became law, graduating college many times meant leaving behind not only the classroom but also dependable health coverage.  Family health insurance plans often stopped covering dependent children once they left school.

As a result…

Making it easier to enroll kids into Medicaid and CHIP

For the last three days, the U.S. Supreme Court has been listening to oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Today, one of the questions which the court will consider is whether the enacted Medicaid expansion…

The Supreme Court challenge that threatens health care reform

We’ve been talking all week about how health reform is benefitting children and families now that the law is turning two years old. But this month also marks the beginning of the Supreme Court challenge to health reform.

The Supreme…

2.5 million more young adults insured thanks to health reform

The Obama administration announced recently that 2.5 million young adults have gained health insurance since the health reform law went into effect. The administration credits the provision that allows children to stay on their family’s health care plan until…

The financial protections for families in the health reform law

President Obama has said that passing health reform was essential to curbing the federal deficit. And the Congressional Budget Office does, indeed, show that repealing health reform would increase the deficit. But did you know of all the ways…

“Pre-existing conditions” no longer exist for America’s children – thanks, health reform!

This week child advocates celebrate the two year anniversary of the passage of health reform. When the health reform law takes full effect in 2014, Americans can no longer be denied coverage based on so-called “pre-existing conditions,” prior health problems…

Better messaging can lead to greater enrollment of children into health coverage

Through its partnership with Ohio Children in the Vanguard, Voices for Ohio’s Children led a session on Friday about better messaging to families who do not have health coverage for their children. The event, titled “Getting the Right Message,” engaged more…

Emphasizing healthy child development – from birth to adulthood

It is encouraging that more children are now enrolled in health insurance programs.  As health insurance costs have risen and employer-based family coverage declined, the two federal programs designed to provide health services for kids —Medicaid and the Children’s Health…