September 23, 2010: A Milestone For Health Care

The Affordable Care Act is going to make health care more secure, more reliable, and more affordable. While some provisions like small business tax breaks and prescription drug loophole reform were available almost immediately, many more substantial changes will go into effect on September 23, 2010.

As we countdown to this milestone date, here are some significant new changes that may affect you starting on the 23rd:

  • No rescinding coverage – In the past, clerical error or other technicalities were used to rescind coverage when the patient got sick. After September 23rd, this is no longer possible, protecting patients and saving families from lengthy battles to restore coverage. [Chicago Tribune, 7/6/10]
  • Fair coverage for children – Children can no longer be rejected from health care plans due to pre-existing conditions. [Chicago Tribune, 6/7/10]

  • No more “lifetime limits” – Currently, over 100 million Americans could face hardship if they max out their insurance benefits. No one understands this more than cancer patients do; they can often exhaust lifetime benefits in a matter of months. Without lifetime benefit limits, people can receive the coverage they need without worry. [AARP Bulletin, 8/23/10]

  • The beginning of the end for annual limits – Beginning on September 23, insurers must cover all benefits up to $750,000. This amount goes up over time, with limits being fully eliminated in 2014. [AARP Bulletin, 8/23/10]

  • Free preventive care – New health insurance plans will be mandated to provide preventive services at no extra cost. This includes things like mammograms, immunization, and wellness visits. [Reuters, 7/14/10]

  • Expanded coverage for young adults – In most circumstances, young adults can stay on their parents’ health plan until age 26. [New York Times, 8/13/10]

  • Appealing insurance company decisions – When an insurer denies a claim or rescinds coverage, where does a patient turn? Because laws vary from state to state and information is limited, most consumers do not even know they have the legal right to challenge unfair rulings. The Affordable Care Act will now allow Americans to appeal to external review boards if necessary, and provides $30 million to states to strengthen consumer assistance offices. [Washington Post, 7/22/10]

To read a comprehensive timeline of Affordable Care Act reforms, check out the timeline at Healthcare.gov.