New health care regulations, including some that are considered beneficial to people with cystic fibrosis, are scheduled to begin in September 2010. These include:

• Pre-existing conditions: People with pre-existing conditions will find it easier to get health care coverage and have more protection against losing coverage. Insurance plans will be prohibited from excluding children from health coverage due to pre-existing conditions starting in September. This protection will also cover adults beginning in 2014.
• Annual and lifetime spending caps: Insurers may no longer establish annual and lifetime coverage limits on their health care plans. Some group and individual plans will see the elimination of limits on annual and yearly caps starting this year, while others will this benefit starting later.
• Coverage for dependents: Children will now be able to remain on their parents' or guardians' insurance plans up until age 26.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation continues to closely follow the changes to health care reform. While the Foundation has not taken a position on any particular health reform bill, we have consistently and aggressively encouraged officials to include specific reforms that are important for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.