Advocates, elected officials promote health-reform law

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

About 2.4 million Ohioans younger than 65 have been diagnosed with a pre- existing medical condition that could prevent them from obtaining health insurance, according to a report from Families USA, a consumer health-care advocacy group.

These Ohioans will gain significant protections when health-care-reform legislation goes into effect, Ron Pollack, Families USA executive director, said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

The recently passed federal legislation will prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage or charging “discriminatory” premiums to those with pre- existing conditions, Pollack said.

Pollack was joined in the conference call by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Avon, and U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, and Mary Jo Kilroy of Columbus, D-15th, all of whom agreed the report underscores Ohio’s need for health-care reform.

“This study confirms what we have been hearing from our districts,” Kilroy said.

According to the report, 25 percent of Ohio’s non- elderly population — including nearly half of all Ohioans between age 55 and 64 — could be denied coverage in the individual health-insurance market because of a pre-existing condition.

The study also indicates that, although low- income Ohioans are slightly more likely to be affected, middle-class and higher-income residents make up 70.8 percent of those with pre-existing conditions.

“This is a common concern, regardless of gender, income or age,” Brown said.

Brown outlined how state residents will benefit as health-care reform takes effect in the next few years.

In September, insurance companies no longer will be allowed to deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. The provision will be extended to all consumers by 2014, Brown said.

The Ohio Department of Insurance will operate a temporary high-risk pool to provide coverage for uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions until the end of 2013, he added.

Ryan and Wilson urged voters to support and protect health-care reform.

“Everyone knows that the health-care-reform law is not perfect,” Wilson said. “But it is a good, significant first step.”

Republicans in Congress have threatened to repeal the legislation — or severely limit its funding — if their party wins congressional majorities in November.

“By repealing the health-care-reform provision, these 2.4 million people will be left out,” Ryan said.

“It will increase stress on families, which will make the patients sicker and end up costing more money in the long run.”