Reflecting on how the Affordable Care Act Changed Health Coverage

"Before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, getting adequate and reliable health coverage was a challenge for millions of Americans.

Many plans didn’t allow you to keep children on your health plan after they graduated from college, pre-existing conditions like heart disease and cancer often weren’t covered when you switched to new coverage, and many plans only covered a limited amount for essential benefits, leading to significant out-of-pocket costs. And millions of Americans didn’t have health coverage at all.

Since 2010, the ACA has made health coverage more accessible and affordable for many Americans. Thanks to the ACA,

• Your children can stay on your health plan until they turn 26.
• Health plans can’t deny you coverage because you have a pre-existing condition.
• Dollar limits for essential health benefits have been banned.
• You can get preventive care without having to pay out of pocket.

And more importantly, the ACA ensures all Americans have access to health coverage.  If you lose the health coverage from your employer – for instance, if you lose your job – or if your employer doesn’t offer a health plan, you can sign up for health coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Through the marketplace, you can find and compare coverage options, so you can decide which is best for you. And you may qualify for a tax credit that lowers your monthly premium, as well as for reductions in the amount you pay for deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. By making these plans available and affordable, the marketplace has reduced the number of uninsured by about 80 percent over the last dozen years. You can apply for marketplace coverage by visiting www.HealthCare.gov  or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

At the Employee Benefits Security Administration, we also have some great resources available to help you make the most of your health benefits. You can learn more about the ACA on our website, and read about 10 ways to make your health benefits work for you, or speak to a benefits advisor by visiting https://askebsa.dol.gov or calling 1-866-444-3272..."
Affordable Care Act 

Health Insurance Open Enrollment begins November 15, 2014

"Open Enrollment for 2015 coverage starts November 15, 2014. Until then, you can get ready by learning about the Marketplace, seeing if you may qualify for savings, downloading an application checklist, and more.

Plans and estimated prices for 2015 coverage will be available in early November..."
Health insurance Enrollment

Affordable Care Act to improve quality of care for people with Medicare
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released proposed new rules to help doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers better coordinate care for Medicare patients through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create incentives for health care providers to work together to treat an individual patient across care settings – including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and long-term care facilities. The Medicare Shared Savings Program will reward ACOs that lower health care costs while meeting performance standards on quality of care and putting patients first. Patient and provider participation in an ACO is purely voluntary.

The proposed new rules will help doctors, hospitals, and other providers form ACOs and are now available for public comment. HHS also announced it will hold a series of open-door forums and listening sessions during the comment period to help the public understand what the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency administering the ACO program, is proposing to do and to ensure that the public understands how to participate in the formal comment process..."