By Dave Bullard
Oswego, NY – Health insurance reform may be the law of the land but that does not mean everyone understands it.
That is what North Country Congressman Bill Owens believes. He said he is spending a lot of time lately telling people about the changes that will happen and in the years ahead.
This year, seniors will begin to see the elimination of the Medicare "donut hole," which forces them to spend a certain amount of money before coverage kicks in. People 26 years old and under will be able to stay on their parents' health insurance and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions will begin.
Owens said the discussion of those benefits was clouded by a political argument.
"What people began to rely on was a tremendous amount of disinformation and misinformation that was being promulgated and instead of focusing on what actually was in the bill and the larger substantive discussions about the legislature," said Owens.
Owens said he wants issues to be debated in a more civil fashion than happened in the health care discussion. The Democrat from Plattsburgh cast one of the crucial votes in the house to approve the health insurance reform bill.