[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16358]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS

  (Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. Today marks an important milestone in our effort to 
ensure access to high quality health coverage for all Americans--the 
implementation of the Patients Bill of Rights. As of today, no child 
can be denied insurance coverage because of a preexisting condition. I 
introduced this bill, championed it throughout health care reform, and 
now it offers financial and emotional security for so many families.
  And there is more. Young adults may remain on their parents' policy 
until age 26. Insurers may no longer drop coverage when someone gets 
sick. From now on, plans cannot set annual or lifetime limits on 
coverage. And new policies must include prevention and screening 
without copayments and consumer choice of their primary care physician.
  Other important provisions of health care reform are already 
underway. Every State now has a high-risk insurance pool. Seniors get 
the help of a $250 check to help with the doughnut hole, the gap in 
prescription coverage, and thousands of businesses are receiving relief 
for providing health coverage to workers and retirees.
  Access to meaningful coverage and these new consumer protections are 
improving the lives of Americans and mark a new era of high quality 
insurance for all Americans.

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