Health Care Reform Bill Confusion

A new poll by Harris Interactive and HealthDay demonstrated that there is still a lot of confusion about the health care reform bill. In the poll participants were asked to identify from a list of 18 items what is in the bill and what isn't. Here's a couple of the figures:

- 58% knew that the bill will prohibit coverage denial based on pre-existing conditions.

- 55% knew that children will be able to remain on their parent's insurance until age 26.

- 52% knew there will be a financial penalty for anyone who doesn't have insurance.

In these 3 items over half of respondents were in the know. But other parts of the bill saw people very much less informed. Areas where most respondents weren't in the know include: Criteria for an employer being required to offer health insurance to employees, tax credits for business that offer insurance, expansion of medicaid, creation of insurance exchanges, new taxes on medical devices, and new fees for drug companies.

Here's our recommendation. Do some research using a reliable source on the bill and find out what it includes and how that will affect you and your family over the coming years. Our health care system can be very complicated and this bill is too. It is important for you to be in the know so you can make sure you get the care you need when you need it at a price you expected.