When the $940 billion health care plan takes effect, about 32 million Americans who don’t have health insurance will be covered with the new health care plan.  Here are a few ways on how the health care reform bill will help real people with health insurance problems.

* Effective in six months time, children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health care.  Even if a child’s parents lose their jobs, they will not be denied a private insurance based on their child’s condition.
* In 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny adults with pre-existing condition coverage or charge them higher premiums.  Also, in 2014, Medicaid will cover individuals up to 133% of the poverty level.  Adults who get a low income will be eligible for Medicaid, or could get insurance through an exchange, a state-based pool established by the reform measure.
* Unemployed and uninsured individuals will also qualify for Medicaid under the 2014 rules.  They will also immediately benefit from the expansion of funding for community health centers that offer free and reduced-cost care.  The community health centers will receive $1 billion in fiscal year 2011 under reform.
* Small business owners with less than 50 employees will not incur a penalty for not offering health insurance.  For a company with an average wage of $25,000, if the employer provides at least half of the premium to employees, the employer is eligible for a tax credit of 35 percent of the employer’s contribution.
* The “doughnut hole” that is usually experienced by retirees will be narrowed more each year until it is completely gone in 2020.  Those in it now will receive a $250 rebate this year, and by 2020 will pay 25 percent of drug costs.
* Starting in 6 months, college students about to graduate can stay on their parents’ health plans up to their 26th birthday.