Our health care system is not perfect, that’s true. There are many changes we would like to see, some of which we may not ever get in our lifetimes.  But, there are a lot of good things about our health care system too.  On a day like today, when we’re all sitting down to our delicious free-range heritage breed locovore turkey dinner, it’s nice to pause for a moment and give a nice shout out to the good things we have to be thankful for.

Here’s just a few things that we here at HCFANY are thankful for (in no particular order):

• Our health insurance plans now have to justify their premium rate increases to the State and pass an approval process before they can raise prices.
• Because of the ACA, young adults can now stay on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26.
• New York has something called “community rating,” which means that health insurers can’t charge you higher rates simply because of your age, gender, or health history.
• Quality, affordable health care available for kids through Child Health Plus.
• New York has strong benefit mandates – essential services insurance companies operating in the start are required to offer – like chemotherapy, maternity care, and hospice care.
• Because of the ACA, we no longer have to pay co-pays for many preventative care services.
• Because of the ACA, people with pre-existing conditions now have a new choice for coverage, the NY Bridge Plan.
• Because of the ACA, seniors who hit the Medicare “donut hole” are now getting help with their prescription drug costs.
• New York has something called “guaranteed issue,” which means that insuers have to offer health insurance to everyone, even if they have a pre-existing condition (even though they have waiting periods for coverage related to that condition.  But thanks to the ACA – those waiting periods will soon be a thing of the past!).

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!