What are the healthcare reform changes?
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UnitedHealthcare answered:On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the health care reform bill, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. Its goal is to lower health care costs, provide greater access to health care and enhance the quality of care Americans receive.
Some of the provisions that have been rolled out in the last year include:
- Adult children are eligible for coverage under their parents’ group health plan up to the age of 26;
- Members under age 19 may be covered, even with pre-existing medical conditions;
- Certain preventive care services are covered at 100% when services are provided through an in-network provider;
- Lifetime dollar limits are no longer applied to Essential Health Benefits for plan years effective on or after September 23;
- Flexible spending account (FSA) dollars cannot be used to pay for over-the-counter (OTC) medications at a pharmacy, supermarket or other retail store without a prescription;
- A prior approval is not required before seeking emergency care at a network or non-network hospital.
Additional provisions will be rolling out in the next several years. For more information on health care reform, go to healthcare.gov or www.uhc.com/reform.
This communication is not intended as legal or tax advice. Please contact a competent legal or tax professional for personal advice on eligibility, tax treatment and restrictions. Federal and state laws and regulations are subject to change.On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the health care reform bill, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. Its goal is to lower health care costs, provide greater access to health care and enhance the... More -
SecondsCount.org answered:Now that the Affordable Care Act (the Act) has been signed into law, you may be wondering what has changed and how it will affect your access to quality healthcare for you and your family. Much of that will depend on your individual circumstances and the established time line for implementing the various provisions of the Act.
Generally, the most significant changes are in the following areas:
- Expansion of Coverage - These provisions increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid, lay the groundwork for a marketplace where individuals and small business can buy insurance, and extend coverage for adult children up to age 26 on their parents' insurance plans.
- Consumer Protections - These provisions regulate insurance company practices that impact eligibility, including pre-existing conditions, limits on annual and lifetime benefits, and policy cancellations.
- Impact on Medicare - These provisions extend the life of the Medicare program by cutting waste and introducing efficiencies. They also expand coverage of prescription drugs, preventive services, and annual physical exams for people over 65, and scale back benefits in the Medicare Advantage program to reduce costs.
Now that the Affordable Care Act (the Act) has been signed into law, you may be wondering what has changed and how it will affect your access to quality healthcare for you and your family. Much of that will depend on your individual circumstances... More
