Health Insurance System Improvements

[Guest guest]

Dear Group Members:

The following improvements in the U.S. health insurance system benefiting CML

patients go into effect today as a result of President Obama's sweeping overhaul

of the health care system:

_Insurers will no longer be able to deny coverage to children with pre-existing

conditions, so that a child with CML can still get coverage. Unfortunately

adult CML patients will have to wait until 2014 before insurance industry

discrimination against patients with pre-existing conditions is outlawed.

•Insurers cannot drop coverage of people who get sick, including CML patients.

•End of lifetime limits of coverage, so that if a CML patient needs a

transplant, it must be covered, no matter how high the price tag.

•Young adults can stay on their parents' plan up to age 26 or until they get

their own coverage, very important for young people with CML who may find it

difficult to find a job with health insurance due to economy.

•Preventive care must be provided with no additional out-of-pocket costs.

•Insurance companies cannot charge more for out-of-network emergency room

visits.

I realize this is only a start, but we need to make sure that ALL CML patients

get a fair shake at survival.