Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Quick Fact: Breitbart falsely claims health care reform benefits "won't happen for four years"

Media Matters for America


http://mediamatters.org/items/201003230016

While discussing health care reform on Fox Business Network, Andrew Breitbart falsely claimed that the Democrats' health care reform isn't going to "give us the benefits for four years." In fact, numerous benefits contained in the Senate bill would become available in the first year after the bill is enacted.

Breitbart: Benefits "won't happen for four years"

From the March 22 edition of Fox Business Network's America's Nightly Scoreboard:

BREITBART: At the end of the day, I don't think that many people understand what is going to happen and how it's going to change their lives. A lot of people tell us that they're going to start taking our money now and the beginning benefits of it won't happen for four years. I think that that could be the beginning of problems. You're going to take more of our money at a time where we need to keep more of our money, and you're not going to give us the benefits for four years?

Fact: Numerous benefits from Senate health care bill would "be available in the first year after enactment" of the bill

Senate Democrats note "Immediate Benefits" of health care bill. According to a document put forth by Senate Democrats summarizing the "Immediate Benefits" of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the bill "will bring immediate benefits to millions of Americans, including those who currently have coverage." The benefits include "access to affordable coverage for the uninsured with pre-existing conditions," "access to quality care for vulnerable populations," "no pre-existing coverage exclusions for children," "re-insurance for retiree health benefit plans," "closing the coverage gap in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit," "small business tax credits," "ensuring value for premium payments," protection of "patients' choice of doctors," "prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization before" a "woman sees an ob-gyn," "ensuring access to emergency care," "extension of dependent coverage for young adults," "coverage of prevention and wellness benefits," "free, annual wellness visit" for Medicare beneficiaries," a prohibition on "insurers from imposing lifetime limits on benefits," "restricted annual limits on coverage," and prohibiting "insurers from rescinding insurance when claims are filed," among other immediate benefits.

White House: Benefits start this year. White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer also laid out the immediate benefits of reform, writing on March 22:

This year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will have the opportunity to purchase quality, affordable health insurance. Beginning in 2010, small business owners will no longer be forced to choose between offering health care and hiring new employees because they'll be offered tax credits of up to 35 percent of premiums to help insure their employees. Medicare beneficiaries will no longer wonder how they'll afford their prescription drug bills because they'll be given a rebate of $250 if they hit the prescription drug donut hole in 2010. And early retirees will be provided help through the creation of a temporary re-insurance program to help offset the costs of expensive premiums.

This year, you will now have the security of knowing that insurers cannot deny coverage to your child because of a pre-existing condition. You won't have to live every day in fear of having your insurance taken away from you if you get sick. And for new plans, there won't be lifetime or restrictive annual limits on the amount of care you receive from your insurance companies.

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