Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that a new health care website will go live on July 1 to provide Americans a place to compare and research health insurance plans online. The Department of Health and Human Services is scheduled to launch the website next week: www.healthcare.gov.

"This website will become the nation’s main portal for health insurance information," said Congressman Cuellar. "Healthcare.gov will empower Americans with comprehensive information on their health care choices."

The nation’s new health care law, passed by Congress earlier this year, requires the creation of the new online health insurance portal. The website will give consumers a list of all private and public health care plans available in their region and will display detailed costs and side-by-side benefits information by October.

Healthcare.gov will also list detailed information regarding premium increases among insurance companies.

"By shining light on insurance premium hikes we will give Americans valuable information," said Congressman Cuellar. "By putting all this information in one place, we provide Americans the comprehensive access they don’t have right now."

This week, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury issued regulations protected in the new Patient’s Bill of Rights under the health care law. Beginning September 23, new rules take effect to strongly limit insurance companies from capping lifetime limits on coverage, and individuals will become eligible to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until they turn 26.

For a comprehensive list of new protections taking effect this fall, please visit: /UploadedFiles/New_Patients_Bill_of_Rights_Fact_Sheet_Final.pdf