VOLUNTEER

What do volunteers do?

Staff headquarters

How can you become a volunteer?

Call or write:
Janie Nichols Benson
267 Knollwood Drive
Waynesville, NC 28786
828.456.4942

Call:
John Scroggs
828.648.0514

Health Care Bill: What Happens Next?

What does health insurance reform actually mean for the average American? President Obama and the White House have put together a list of answers to frequently asked questions.

Q: Will my premiums / costs go up because of health reform?
A: No.
According to the independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, people who get coverage through their employer today will likely see lower premiums.
Reform will lower premiums by reducing administrative costs, increasing competition between insurance companies and creating a larger pool of insured Americans.
And remember, the cost of doing nothing is high. In ten years, health care spending for each employee at an average big company will be $28,530.
Q: As a small business owner, will I be required to provide coverage that I can't afford?
A: No.
The President's proposal does not require that small businesses provide coverage to their employees. Instead, the President's proposal provides tens of billions of dollars in new tax-credits to small businesses to make it easier for them to provide coverage if they choose to do so.
Today, small businesses pay up to 18 percent more than large firms for the same health insurance policy. The independent and non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that with health insurance reform, premiums for small businesses will go down.
In addition, you will be protected from sudden, arbitrary rate hikes because a worker get sick; because insurance companies will no longer be permitted to base the cost of coverage on health status.
Q: Will my benefits be cut?
A: No.
Your guaranteed Medicare benefits will not be cut.
In addition, you will have benefits you don't have today: Preventive services like cancer screenings at no cost, and a substantial reduction in prescription drug prices if you fall into that gap in coverage known as the "donut hole". Over time the bill closes this coverage gap completely. And the Medicare Trust Fund will be extended for more than 9 years, making sure that the Medicare program will be there for seniors now and in years to come.
Q: I do not have insurance? Can I afford coverage under this plan?
A: Clearly, the system we have today is broken. If you don't have health coverage, there's no limit on how much insurance companies can charge you, and they can decide to refuse to sell you a policy at their whim. Health insurance reform will change all of that.
For the first time in history, there will be limits on how much anyone will have to pay to receive health care coverage. And depending upon your income, you may be among the tens of millions of Americans who will get a tax credit to help pay for your coverage.
And for the first time in history, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to simply tell you "no". They will be required to offer coverage regardless of your health status, and they cannot jack up rates or drop you from your coverage when you get sick.
Q: I buy my own insurance. Will I pay more than I am paying today?
A: No.
You will likely pay less---perhaps much less. If you buy coverage like you have today on your own, premiums are expected to drop by 14 to 20 percent. If you get coverage through your job, premiums could decline by up to 3 percent.
In addition, many Americans buying coverage in the individual market will qualify for tax credits that reduce their premiums by an average of nearly 60 percent - and they will get better coverage than what they have.