Effects of the Healthcare Reform in Arkansas

The Healthcare Reform in Arkansas can help 506,000 seniors to receive free preventive services. Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" drug costs will be halved for 89,800 seniors. Premiums will be more affordable for 36,200 small businesses that could be helped through a small business tax credit. 323,000 residents could be helped to purchase health coverage because they will qualify for premium tax credits. The purpose of the Arkansas Health Insurance Reform is to help people gain access to a new competitive health insurance market and to keep costs down even for the ones that have lost a job or changed jobs. The price of premiums has more than doubled in 27 states and fewer people receive health coverage through their employer. Families have to struggle with health care costs.

There was a need to ensure customer protection because insurance companies arbitrarily dropped coverage and put lifetime limits on the coverage or annual limits. Arkansas Health Insurance Reform aims to give an immediate option for people that have diabetes and people with high blood pressure who are considered risky by insurance companies and therefore won't cover them. Through this Healthcare Reform in Arkansas a high risk pool will be established that will enable people who cannot presently get insurance to find affordable health plans.

Preventive services such as mammograms for women over 50 and colorectal cancer screening could be accessed for free by all people through the health plan. 31,100 people from Arkansas have early retiree coverage that has eroded over time. Arkansas Health Insurance Reform will stabilize early retiree coverage by providing reinsurance.

506,000 seniors who are Medicare beneficiaries will benefit from coverage for free preventive services that prove to be very expensive even when Medicare covers a part of the costs. Seniors will benefit also from free annual wellness visits to their personal care providers and from a personalized prevention plan that will keep them in good health.

Small businesses could benefit also from the Healthcare Reform in Arkansas because they can be helped by a small businesses tax credit that makes premiums more affordable. The pressure on state budget can be dropped because more uninsured people could benefit from an affordable health insurance plan. The uncompensated care will be reduced also. Families will no longer have to support the cost of medical care.

The Arkansas Health Insurance Reform could stop the increase of population that doesn't have a health insurance. Currently in Arkansas there are 481,000 residents do not have health insurance. The other 128,000 residents that purchase individual health insurance could benefit by affordable prices and quality coverage.

The Healthcare Reform in Arkansas could have a solution for the services that are not covered by private health insurance, Medicaid or by Medicare for people over 65 that need home health services. People with disabilities and seniors could get support and care from a voluntary long term care service insurance program. States could provide enhanced funding to expand community based services through Medicaid that would provide support for disabled Medicaid enrollees who would otherwise need to be in a nursing home.

Arkansas will see a variety of positive benefits as a result of Healthcare Reform in Arkansas.