Your Benefits
How Will the Healthcare Law Help You?
The Affordable Care Act will ensure fair and stable coverage for individuals and families; make it more affordable for businesses to purchase health care for workers; and protect the future of Medicare by cutting fraud and abuse.
Individuals and Families with Coverage:
You or your family members cannot be dropped from your health insurance plan because of pre-existing conditions or unexpected illnesses. There will be no lifetime limits on your benefits. The Affordable Care Act provides tax credits, based on income, to those in the individual market to make health coverage more affordable. Children will be eligible to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26.
Businesses and Employers:
For both large and small businesses, health care reform will help lower the premiums employers must pay for their workers. In addition, many businesses will be able to use Health Care Exchanges to find more affordable plans. Small businesses will be eligible for tax credits worth up to 35 percent of their contribution to employee health insurance.
Seniors:
As part of Medicare, you will be able to receive free annual preventive wellness check-ups and tests, such as mammograms for women and eye exams for diabetics. Transition services will be provided to help high risk patients make successful transitions home after a hospitalization. The Medicare Part D “donut hole” will be eliminated over the next few years. In the meantime, seniors will see increased rebates for brand-name drugs and those that have hit the “donut hole” will receive a $250 rebate in 2010.
To read more about the many ways the new plan will help you, visit HealthCare.gov.
When Will the Changes Take Place?
Many of the changes, like banning discrimination based on pre-existing conditions for children under 19, tax benefits for small businesses, and rebate checks to cover the prescription drug "donut hole," will start providing Americans with health care relief starting September 23, 2010. However, the Affordable Care Act and its full benefits will be implemented over the next few years.
See the America's Healthare timeline here.
What Changes Will Take Place in My State?
The Affordable Care Act is already making a difference in your state. Over the next few years, it will continue to make health care more affordable and accessible for you, your loved ones, and your community.
To read a fact sheet on what health care reform is already doing in your area, visit WhiteHouse.gov.
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"Under new plans, no child under age 19 will be denied coverage for a pre-existing conditions, period. Adults who have been without insurance for six months and who have been unable to obtain insurance because of a pre-existing condition, can apply for coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)."
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Insurers can no longer cut someone after the fact.
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New screening procedures are now in place for health care providers to eliminate fraud and waste in the health care system.
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Medicare Part D enrollees who hit the Medicare prescription drug benefit gap in 2010 will automatically receive a $250 rebate check.
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Effective immediately, qualified small employers get tax credits of up to 35% of premiums for offering coverage.
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America's new health care law makes it easier for you to find the quality, affordable health care that you and your family need.
