The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer discusses the end of rescissions in health insurance, one of the most dramatic improvements from health reform yet.
One of the most important reforms included in the Affordable Care Act is the ban on what the insurance companies call “rescissions” – cancelling your coverage when you get sick. The ban wasn’t scheduled to go into effect until September, but in a clear sign of momentum for changing the health care status quo, the health insurance industry announced today that they’ll be complying with the ban starting in May. Today’s announcement follows public outrage over news that Wellpoint, a major insurer, specifically targeted for cancellation women suffering from breast cancer.
Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, released the following statement welcoming the news:
“Health reform made rescissions illegal because all Americans should be able to rely on quality care when they need it most. It’s heartening to see that the insurance companies who employed these terrible practices – and fought reform – are coming around doing the right thing by instituting the ban right away. We’ll be watching closely and holding them to their word.”
Read more about the rescission ban.
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
