Holly Erwin
Thursday, July 5, 2012 2:32 pm

Dear Kentucky,

Mitch McConnell was elected to represent us so why is he sneaking around the state going to For Profit Hospitals to speak to select staff behind closed doors to take away our affordable healthcare benefits?

Affordable Healthcare Act makes $63 million federal dollars available to Kentucky, July 1, to provide coverage for uninsured residents with pre-existing medical conditions and made prescription drugs affordable for seniors.

Kentucky has received $3.7 million under the new law to fight unreasonable premium increases.

In 2011, 538,544 Kentuckians on Medicare received free preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies or a free annual wellness visit with their doctor.

In 2012, 263,870 people with Medicare received free preventive services.

732,000 Kentuckians with private health insurance gained preventive service coverage with no cost-sharing.

249,275 Kentucky residents with private insurance coverage benefit from $15,326,103 in rebates averaging $114 from insurance companies this summer.

Your choice of doctors will be protected; members in new plans can pick any participating primary care provider.

Insurers can’t require prior authorization before a woman sees an ob-gyn, and ensures access to emergency care.

Small business will receive tax credits.

The Medicare Part D donut hole will be closed.

The Act supports health coverage for early retirees.

Insurance companies will no longer be able to place lifetime limits and are banned from dropping people when they get sick.

Health insurance companies will not be able to exclude children from coverage because of a pre-existing condition, giving parents across Kentucky peace of mind.

Insurance plans annual limits will be tightly regulated to ensure access to needed care protecting 2 million residents of Kentucky with health insurance from their employer, and those with new insurance plans in Kentucky.

Young adults can stay on their parents plan longer. In October, 2010, the Act provided funding for the National Health Service Corps ($1.5 billion over five years) for scholarships, loan repayments for doctors, nurses and other health care providers who work in areas with a shortage helping 11% of Kentuckians who live in an underserved area.

For the first time, Kentucky has the option of Federal Medicaid funding for coverage for all low-income populations, irrespective of age, disability, or family status.

The law gives Kentucky support for their work to build the health care workforce, crack down on fraud, and support public health.

Due to word restraints I can’t list the hundreds of other benefits to Kentuckians.

Holly Erwin, Mayfield, KY