State tells insurers no on 235 plans for small groups By Robert Weisman Making good on Governor Deval Patrick’s promise to reject health insurance rate increases deemed excessive, the state Division of Insurance yesterday denied 235 of 274 increases proposed by insurers for plans covering individuals and small businesses. Read More…

By ERICA WERNER WASHINGTON — The Obama administration took a step Friday toward showing voters concrete benefits from the new health care law, moving to help people with pre-existing health conditions get coverage within months. The law the president signed March 23 provides for creation within 90 days of buying pools to target uninsured people who were denied coverage because of health conditions. Five billion dollars is being spent on the program, which will remain until the sweeping health law is fully implemented in 2014, when insurance companies will have to take all comers. Read More…

But only 1-in-4 Quebecers happy By DON BUTLER, Canwest News Service Americans may be deeply divided over health-care reform, but Canadians are increasingly content with their own state-run system, says a poll done for Health Canada. According to the $90,000 survey of 1,750 adults, 44 per cent rate the state of health care in Canada as good or excellent – an increase of seven percentage points since 2007 and 20 points higher than in 2004. About the same number rate the state of health care as fair. Just one in nine say it’s poor or very poor, half as many as in 2004. As well, eight in...

by Lisa Collier Cool Now that the health care overhaul is law, when will you start to see a difference? Some changes kick in immediately, but the rest trickle out over the next few years, with a few provisions not taking hold until the end of the decade. While you’re probably aware of some of the bill’s major changes, we’ve sorted through the nitty gritty details to help you start planning. Here’s a look at some of the key measures that you can — and should — prepare for in the coming months and beyond. Read More…

By Kathy Brister For the AJC This report is based on the best information currently available. As federal agencies write regulations to support the new law, and as unintended consequences inevitably appear, some things may change. Every American will be affected in some way by the coming changes to the nation’s health care system. Some people will have greater access to care at more affordable prices. Some will retain their current coverage but keep a wary eye on how their health insurance premiums change. Others will feel the greatest effect on their pocketbook as taxes and fees designed...

by Katie Adams The Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act, more commonly referred to as the “healthcare bill”, has taken over a year to craft and has been a lightning rod for political debate because it effectively reshapes major facets of the country’s healthcare industry. Here are 10 things you need to know about how the new law may affect you: Read More…

By Laura Ann Sills COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) – More than 30 million people tan indoors every year. The government expects to generate almost three billion dollars over ten years by taxing each of them 10%. This tax is part of the new Health Care law. “To have the government come in and just non-discriminately give us another tax like this is just one more blow. It is one more thing hurting our American dream,” said Carla Plazas. Read More…

An Early Look at Who’s In and Who’s Out with Passage of Democrats’ Health Care Overhaul By DEVIN DWYER, TEDDY DAVIS, RICK KLEIN and DAVID CHALIAN Passage of the health care overhaul billhas sent ripple effects through the political world and the nation’s health care system, with Democrats hailing a legislative victory and Republicans promising to have it overturned. But the politics of the historic and controversial bill – which passed by a narrow vote of 219 to 212 – will continue to play out, as analysts examine where the chips fall on what President Obama has called...

Major ways the overhaul will affect those who currently have health insurance and those who do not. You can keep your current plan— or —you can buy coverage through new state-run insurance marketplaces, called “exchanges,” starting in 2014. If you keep your current plan Within six months, the plans will have to stop some practices, like setting lifetime limits on coverage and canceling policy holders who get sick. They will also have to allow children to stay on their parents’ policies through age 26 and cover children with pre-existing conditions, but can still deny adults with medical...

By Alan Silverleib, CNN Washington (CNN) — A sweeping bill overhauling the U.S. medical system goes to President Obama’s desk on Monday to be signed into law. The House of Representatives passed the measure late Sunday, delivering a historic victory to Obama, who had made it his No. 1 domestic priority. The bill passed in a 219-212 vote after more than a year of bitter partisan debate. All 178 Republicans opposed it, along with 34 Democrats. Read More…