Health Care Reform

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On March 23, 2010, then President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The law puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will roll out over the next four years and beyond.  This law puts consumers back in charge of their health care. Under the law, a new “Patient’s Bill of Rights” gives the American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health.  The key features focus on Coverage, Cost, and Care.  The law makes preventive care more accessible and affordable for many Americans while ensuring that the cost is affordable and care is guaranteed.  

The links below will allow you to keep up to speed with the changes that are involved with this federal law.

• ​Up-to-date information about enrollment and implementation can be found at http://www.healthcare.gov/
• Look up your state’s plan on state-by-state website to see how healthcare is changing.
• Review the Fact Sheets for things to know about the health care law for special populations such as women, clinicians, small businesses, others.

• Ends Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Children: Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
• Keeps Young Adults Covered: If you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parent’s health plan.
• Ends Arbitrary Withdrawals of Insurance Coverage: Insurers can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake.
• Guarantees Your Right to Appeal: You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment.

• Ends Lifetime Limits on Coverage: Lifetime limits on most benefits are banned for all new health insurance plans.
• Reviews Premium Increases: Insurance companies must now publicly justify any unreasonable rate hikes.
• Helps You Get the Most from Your Premium Dollars: Your premium dollars must be spent primarily on health care – not administrative costs.

• Covers Preventive Care at No Cost to You: You may be eligible for recommended preventive health services. No co-payment.
• Protects Your Choice of Doctors: Choose the primary care doctor you want from your plan’s network.
• Removes Insurance Company Barriers to Emergency Services: You can seek emergency care at a hospital outside of your health plan’s network.

• Read the Full Law
• Find detailed technical and regulatory information on the Patient’s Bill of Rights.

Download our Reform Guide Book which will assist you in navigating the changing ACA and possible penalties for failure to comply.