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How Health Insurance Reform Works for You; Boston Federal Court Rules DOMA Unconstitutional; Passport Fee Change

July 9, 2010
Pelosi Update


How Health Insurance Reform Works for You
Since the Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, several health insurance reforms have already gone into effect to put Americans back in charge of their health care. Most recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) to provide a new health coverage option for Americans who have been uninsured for at least six months and have been unable to get health coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It is a transitional program until 2014, when insurers will be banned from discriminating against adults with pre-existing conditions. To learn about the PCIP in California and to request an application to participate in this program, you can click here.

You can also visit the new HHS Web site at https://www.healthcare.gov/ to explore your health insurance coverage options, gain insight about prevention, compare quality care, and learn more about the Affordable Care Act.

Boston Federal Court Rules DOMA Unconstitutional
I strongly support yesterday’s rulings by a federal court in Boston that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the Constitutional guarantee of equal protection. Signed into law in 1996, DOMA prohibits federal recognition of same sex marriages and allows individual states to refuse to recognize marriages performed in other states. I strongly opposed and voted against this legislation.

We must continue to work against division and distraction in our country, and work toward the day when all American families are treated equally.

Passport Fee Change
Beginning July 13th, a new schedule of fees for passport applications will take effect. You can click here to view the new fee schedule.

For passport assistance, the San Francisco Passport Agency is open by appointment only. The automated appointment system permits customers to schedule appointments from any touch tone phone. Only customers who are traveling within three weeks are allowed to schedule an appointment. Those traveling in more than three weeks must apply for passports through the local passport acceptance facility. Instructions for scheduling an appointment are in English and Spanish. Schedule an appointment with the San Francisco Passport Agency by calling (415) 538-2700, 24 hours a day. Consult the San Francisco Passport Agency website for more information.

If you are having difficulty obtaining a passport or other needed travel documents, you may also contact my district office at (415) 556-4862 for assistance.

Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site. I am now on Twitter https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi.