Three Steps to Prepare for Health Care Reform

Whether they were for or against the new healthcare reform law, many Oklahomans are asking what they can do to prepare now.

Tuesday, March 23rd 2010, 10:19 pm

By: News 9


By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Whether they were for or against the new healthcare reform law, many Oklahomans are asking what they can do to prepare now.

Some of Oklahoma's top doctors agreed there are three things families should be doing right now to get ready for the health care reform.

Dr. Timothy Siler said lately he's been dispensing more advice over the nation's newest law than medicine.

"There's been a lot of talk about it," said Dr. Siler from his Edmond office. "My first piece of advice is don't panic."

The signing of the law by President Obama was historic, but Siler said only time will tell just how much this will impact individual Oklahomans.

"There may be some things we find difficult to deal with at first, and it may be a few years actually until we figure out how these things are going to work," Siler said.

Homework is the second thing Siler prescribed. He said a dosage of unbiased information about what's really in the bill could help calm fears, and most of that information can be found on the Internet and government Web sites.

Find out more information about the health care reform law

The third step Oklahomans can take is finding a physician now.

Siler said getting one now could save individuals the trouble of having to one day search for a physician who is still accepting patients.

Dr. Siler admitted, the healthcare overhaul is far from a perfect solution, but he said he's at least happy to see something getting done.

"It may not be exactly what we want it to be but at least we're getting this issue up to the front burner now, and it's been on the back burner for a long time," Siler said.

The President of the Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Paul Preslar, said he agreed.

"I have been so busy just the past two days, I wonder if people are racing to get to a physician now," said Dr. Preslar, who said he echoed the "do not panic" plea. "There have been significant changes to healthcare over the years. Experience has shown there will be a great deal of speculation, panic, and worry, but the overall system will be slow to change and most of the fears will be unfounded," Preslar said.

For those uninsured, 2014 is likely the year individuals will be required to have it or pay a penalty, so experts said everyone should begin planning now. Also, under new tax rules, those who make more than $200,000 could see an increase in taxes. There's also a 10 percent tax in the bill for indoor tanning services. That was added after the Senate dropped the provision that would have taxed elective cosmetic procedures like Botox.

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