>July 1, 2010: The first day of the rest of your life

>Today, a major wave of healthcare reforms begins.

Today, most importantly, the pre-existing condition dies. You can no longer be denied health insurance because you have a pre-existing condition.

If you are among the one in five Americans with a pre-existing condition and you have been denied healthcare insurance, you can sign up for a high-risk healthcare pool today.

Of course, since this system was designed by Congress, it’s a bit complicated to apply. And, since state’s like to hold some power, there will be some variability across states. For example, according to the LA Times, the rates for high-risk pools could vary from $140 to 900 per month. BUT, the main point is that you will not be denied coverage.

Ironically, some states that beat the states’ rights drum most often– like Arizona!— have asked the feds to run their high-risk pools. Twenty-one states want the federal government to run their programs, while 29 others will be running their own high-risk pools.

What does all of this mean to you and your family? Check out the government’s newly designed Healthcare.gov. The site includes an easy-to-use interactive tool to help you find plans in your state.

For more background, the Los Angeles Times has an extensive series of articles related to reform.