by Claudia Boyd-Barrett posted in Parenting

There?s much debate these days about government efforts to shake up healthcare reforms enacted under President Obama. The American Health Care Act ? a bill passed by the House earlier this month ? would significantly change healthcare funding and the rules insurance providers have to follow.
What does this mean if you?re a mom" There are some potential problems, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. The bill still has to pass the Senate, which is expected to make changes to the House?s version or write its own bill. But here?s how you could be affected if the current legislation becomes law:
? Loss of coverage: Almost 1 in 5 women are currently enrolled in Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes. The new bill slashes funding for the program, including money some states have used to dramatically expand Medicaid enrollment. So if you?re struggling financially, you may no longer qualify for Medicaid. Even if you do qualify, services provided by the program could get cut. That?s a big deal considering Medicaid now pays for half of all births and most publicly-funded family planning services. An assessment of the bill by the Congressional Budget Office this week predicted the proposal would lead to 14 million fewer people insured by Medicaid within 10 years. ? Higher premiums: If you have a pre-existing medical condition and let your coverage lapse, you...