I find articles like the one posted add to the schism rather than try to bridge it. This article, however, spells things out pretty well, pros and cons both:
http://www.freep.com/article/2010032...s-coming-in-10
Here is an excerpt:
Here is a look at some key provisions that are to come from one of the biggest changes in health insurance in America in 45 years.
HARD-TO-INSURE
By July, consumers rejected by insurance plans because of costly, preexisting medical problems should be able to purchase insurance through high-risk pools, which are to continue until 2014, when a new marketplace, or insurance exchanges, is to begin to operate. By the end of June, the government is to establish a temporary high-risk pool program. The caps this year on out-of-pocket costs for enrollees are $5,950 for individuals and $11,900 for families.
Starting this year, insurers won't be able to drop coverage for a person who develops a health problem, and no longer will be able to set yearly or lifetime limits on coverage.
By 2014, insurers won't be able to deny coverage to anyone who has had a preexisting health problem. By law, they also can't charge people more because of their gender, race or health problems.
BUT -- insurers can charge people ages 50 to 65 as much as three times more than people ages 21 to 34, whose coverage doesn't cost as much. Monthly premiums also may be higher based on where a person lives, the size of the family and whether those covered by the policy are smokers. In Michigan, people in tri-county Detroit, for example, typically have paid more than people in the western parts of the state, such as Grand Rapids, where health care costs are lower.