Health Care Reform
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Health Reform Made Simple: What You Need to Know Now
In March 2010, Congress passed a historic health care reformhealth care reform
This is a broad term for major changes happening in the United States health care system now and in ... more law. The law is meant to help 32 million Americans get health coverage. Although many changes won’t go into effect until 2014, some rules are already in place.
No one knows exactly how the new law will play out. But we will try to help by sharing our understanding. We have combed through 2,300 pages of health care reformhealth care reform
This is a broad term for major changes happening in the United States health care system now and in ... more [rolloever definition] law and regulations. We've tried to simplify what you need to know – now and in the year ahead.
Of course, this is only a quick view of the most important points focused on the new rules that have already gone into effect. Use these tips when looking at what health care options are available to you in the coming year and how you can best manage your health benefits.
What’s the Patient Protection and Affordable Care ActPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The name of the new health care reform law passed by Congress in March 2010 and signed by President ... more? That’s the full name of the health care reformhealth care reform
This is a broad term for major changes happening in the United States health care system now and in ... more bill passed by Congress on March 23, 2010
Here are some key points to know:
Managing your health
The new regulations:
- Eliminate lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits and phases out annual dollar limits on essential benefits.
- Create state-run insurance exchanges rolling out in 2014 to help people who do not have health coverage.
- Help to make health coverage available to people ages 55 to 65 who are not yet retired (before they can use MedicareMedicare
A Federal government program that provides health care insurance to people aged 65 years or older, a... more e through the temporary Early Retirement Reinsurance Program.
Living well
The new regulations:
- Require all new plans to cover certain preventive health screenings provided in-networkin-network
Also called "provider network." A panel of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals... more, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, without charging a deductibledeductible
A set amount that you must pay for your medical services before the health plan starts to pay.... more, co-pay or coinsurancecoinsurance
The portion of the cost of medical services that you pay for, after you first pay any deductible you... more. This change will affect most new plans and existing plans as they renew. - Allow anyone who has not had health coverage for at least six months because of a pre-existing medical condition to get coverage. The temporary high-risk pools (click on the link for more information) are run by federal and state governments.
- Only allow insurance companies to cancel health plans in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.
Keeping family benefits in check
The new regulations:
- Require that health plans offer coverage to people under the age of 19, regardless of pre-existing conditions. (Starting in 2014, all Americans will be able to get health coverage, even with pre-existing medical conditions.)
- Allow children under age 26 to stay on their parents’ plan.
- Requires that all new health benefitbenefit
The term "benefit" may refer in general to a health plan (your "benefits"), specifically define the ... more plans include certain preventive health services, such as check-ups and immunizations for children.
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