Signing the ACA into Law

On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the most sweeping health care reform bill since 1965 and the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. It was the culmination of over 40 years of efforts to insure more Americans and reform a health care system that Walter Cronkite so adeptly said “was neither healthy, caring, nor a system.”Baltimore has nearly 97,000 uninsured. Almost 86,000 will be eligible for either expanded Medicaid or subsidized, comprehensive  health care coverage (See our analysis below). Baltimore HealthCare Access has closely followed this landmark legislation and will continue to be “at the table” as Maryland implements the ACA.Some of the protections currently in place include:

  • Adult children can now be covered on their parent’s policy up to age 26
  • New restrictions on annual benefit limits
  • No lifetime limits on benefits
  • No preexisting condition exclusions for enrollees under age 19
  • No rescissions of coverage after  claims are made (primarily individual and small group coverage)
  • Coverage without co-pay or deductible for certain types of preventive care for all new group plans – Click here for covered services
  • Revised appeals process with an external review

Keep in mind that although the start date for these provisions is 9/23/10 for some they will not take effect until your new health plan year begins in January or July. Some employers have started ahead of time so be sure to check with your Human Resources department.

Resources

HCAM has also perused available Affordable Care Act materials and chosen the publications below as the best out there right now:

Senator Benjamin Cardin’s Information Flyers

Policy and Analysis

HCAM sits on Senator Cardin’s Health Care Consumer Advisory Group and offered these comments as the health care reform debate moved to the Senate Floor.

HCAM on Health Care Reform In the News

Health Care Reform In Maryland