Some Key Features of the Affordable Care

March 23, 2010, Present Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. (Otherwise known as Obama care) The law puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will be fully implemented in 2014 and beyond.

In 2014, All Americans will have access to affordable health insurance options. Middle and low-income families will get tax credits that cover a significant portion of the cost of coverage. And the Medicaid program will be expanded to cover more low-income Americans. All together, these reforms mean that millions of people who were previously uninsured will gain coverage.

Did you know?

Prohibiting Denying Coverage of Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions
Children under 19 years of age cannot be denied coverage, due to a pre-existing condition. This was effective September 23, 2010, for new plans and existing group plan written on or after September 23rd

Extending coverage to young adults to age 26
Young adults under the age of 26 who cannot get coverage through their jobs, can now stay on their parents’ health plan..

Prohibiting Insurance Companies from Rescinding Coverage
Before the health care law, if your insurance company found that you made a mistake on your application, the insurance company might “rescind” your benefits- that is, declare your policy invalid from the day it began. Your insurance company might also ask you to pay back any money already spent for your medical care. Now, an insurer cannot rescind your coverage simply because you made an honest mistake or left out information that has little bearing on your health. However, your insurance company can still rescind your coverage if you intentionally put false or incomplete information on your insurance application, and it can cancel your coverage if you fail to pay your premiums on time.

Free Preventive Services

Many Americans can now get many preventive services with NO co-pay or deductible.
Americans of all ages can now get the preventive services they need, like Annual Wellness Visit, free of charge, as a result of the new health care law. With more people taking advantage of these benefits, more lives can be saved, and costly, and often burdensome, diseases can be prevented or caught earlier.

The Affordable Care Act requires new plans and issuers, to provide certain preventive services to enrollees, without any cost-sharing requirements (Cost sharing includes out-of pocket costs like deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance) when delivered by network providers, for a variety of preventive health services, such as colonoscopy screening for colon cancer, Pap smears and mammograms for women, well-child visits, and flu shots for all children and adults. Note these required preventive services do not apply to Grandfathered plans.

For Seniors

Free Preventive Services for Seniors. The law provides certain free preventive services, such as annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans for seniors on Medicare. Effective January 1, 2011

Prescription Drug Discounts. Seniors who reach the coverage gap will receive a 50% discount when buying Medicare Part D covered brand-name prescription drugs. Over the next ten years, seniors will receive additional savings on brand-name and generic drugs until the coverage gap is closed in 2020. Effective January 1, 2011

Individual Mandates 2014

In 2014 all individuals must purchase health insurance.

Guarantee Issue
In 2014, all coverage will be guarantee issue no one can be turned down for coverage if he or she has a pre-existing condition. Guarantee Issue, means the insurance company, cannot ask any medical questions to find pre-existing health conditions.

For more information go to www.healthcare.gov

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