HHS Secretary launches new educational initiative, MyCare

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today unveiled "MyCare," a collection of online personal video and blog stories of Americans helped by the Affordable Care Act. MyCare is a new educational initiative to help inform Americans about new programs, benefits and rights under the health care law. Americans are encouraged to share their own stories by using the Twitter hashtag #MyCare or visiting facebook.com/HealthCareGov.

"When I travel across the country, I hear stories of hard-working people struggling with the health care system, being denied care when they need it most, making choices between paying the mortgage or filling their prescription drugs, and dealing with the anxiety of problems that no family should have to face," said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The law eases this stress and helps put the power back into the hands of consumers instead of insurance companies."

The health care law, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law two years ago on March 23, 2010. The law prohibits insurance companies from dropping coverage when people get sick through a practice called "rescission", annual or lifetime limits, and, in 2014, will guarantee health insurance for all Americans including anyone with a pre-existing condition. Insurance companies are also required to cover preventive care like mammograms and other cancer screenings.