The human-interest feature stories about healthcare reform: They’ve begun
Well, that didn’t take long. (I’m referring to my predictions regarding HCR.) The Eldest passes along this story by Meredith Cohn and Kelly Brewington from today’s Baltimore Sun:
A day after the historic vote in Congress to overhaul the nation’s health care system, local patients and their advocates cheered the legislation and say they’re already looking ahead to the expansion of coverage to 600,000 uninsured Marylanders.
While some benefits kick in right away, the provisions that will enable most low and moderate income people to get insurance won’t become available until 2014. That has left the states to decide if they will add people to the rolls early or if they will seek to opt out of the federal requirements. Maryland has worked to expand coverage in recent years, but it’s not yet clear how far the cash-strapped state is willing to go ahead of federal timelines.
Of those uninsured and underinsured in Maryland, some, such as Megan McCurdy, a 24-year-old single working mother, say they hope the aid comes immediately.
"If people get sick they ought to be able to see a doctor," she said. "My doctor has been CVS."
McCurdy, who lives in Burtonsville, said her job as a contractor for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t offer benefits. Her 4-year-old daughter is enrolled in a state program for care, but since being dropped from her father’s insurance 18 months ago when he went on disability, McCurdy has been unable to find affordable coverage.
During that time, she’s developed migraine headaches, blurred vision and an eye infection. After a trip to the emergency room yesterday, she left with a $135 prescription and a payment plan for the hundreds of dollars the visit cost. She also left with an inconclusive diagnosis and no way to pay for more tests.
With health care reform, she’s hoping she will now qualify for coverage in the state’s high-risk pool for those with pre-existing conditions or that she can get coverage through her mother’s health insurance. The federal legislation allows for children up to 26 to remain on their parents’ policies.
She’s hoping she won’t have to wait until 2014 when the states are required to set up health care exchanges where the uninsured can shop, most with federal subsidies."I put off going to the eye doctor, and now I have added costs," she said. "The doctor told me I could go blind and I’m only 24 years old."
Since 2007, Maryland has moved to cover more low-income people, adding thousands of kids and their parents to the Medicaid rolls. Amid budget troubles, others have been left waiting for help, particularly those without children. Still more have watched their premiums skyrocket.Gov. Martin O’Malley said Maryland expects a "net benefit" from the federal reform, with the state saving about $1 billion over the next 10 years. He called Sunday’s vote "courageous and important." …
