Federal Officials Coming to RI to Explain Health Reform

Federal Officials Coming to RI to Explain Health Reform

Federal officials will be in Rhode Island on Monday, February 7th to discuss two new initiatives, the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) and the Consumer Assistance Program. PCIP makes health insurance available to people who have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition and covers a broad range of health benefits, including primary and specialty care, hospital care, and prescription drugs. As part of President Obama’s health reform law, PCIP prevents insurers from charging higher premiums just because of your medical condition and refrains from basing eligibility on income.

Understanding the Benefits

The Consumer Assistance Program offers resources to educate consumers about their health coverage options and ensure their access to accurate information. Rhode Island was awarded $149,880 in a Consumer Assistance Program grant under the Affordable Care Act in October 2010, which, in addition to other goals, provides new, high quality, comprehensive and sustained consumer education and outreach on health insurance reform and coverage.

State & Federal Officials to Appear

Presented in conjunction with Rhode Island's newly re-appointed Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller, speakers at Monday’s meeting include Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts; Jay Angoff, Director of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Holly Whelan, Team Lead, Health Insurance Resource Specialists, Office of Consumer Support in the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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The meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 7th from 1-3pm at Rhode Island Hospital, Nursing Arts Building Lecture Hall, 593 Eddy Street, Providence. Residents interested in attending are asked to RSVP by emailing Jennifer Infurna at [email protected] by 5pm on Thursday, February 3rd.

Image courtsey www.pcip.gov