Health Care Law Changes Begin

Initial pieces of the Democrats' health-care reform legislation go into effect Thursday. On Wednesday, President Obama visited a small gathering in Virginia to make a pitch for the benefits of reform. "We are now actually able to provide some help to the American people," Obama said. What's different? Most of the major changes won't happen for years, but starting this fall insurance companies won't be allowed to cancel policies when customers get sick. They won't be allowed to deny coverage to sick children. And young adults up to the age of 26 will be allowed to stay on their family's insurance plans. Obama may need to do more to explain what exactly the health reform law is doing. Said one industry pollster, "The messaging wars and the rhetoric are really muddying the picture."