On September 23, 2010 the first provisions of the historical Health Care legislation passed earlier this year will begin to come into play. I consider these provisions mostly consumer protections and quite good ones at that, which is why I put those words into the title of this diary.
More below
Now might be a good time to review just exactly goes into effect as of tomorrow, since it has been six months since the Healthcare Bill was signed into law.
As most Americans purchase our insurance through our employers, that is the focus of this diary. However, if you follow the link, more information for those that purchase their own insurance is discussed. For those without insurance at this time, unfortunately our Senate, House of Representatives and President didn't push through Health Care for all Americans. Keep fighting hard and hopefully we can see this dream come true one day in the near future.
Changes to Healthcare September 23, 2010
If you purchase insurance through your employer:
Coverage expansion for adult dependents until age 26. Employers will have to provide coverage for dependents of workers who don't have access to other employer-based health care coverage 'till age 26. Some states already mandate this coverage until age 28 or 29.
This new provision could also push companies to look for ways to restrict the number of new people added to their health plans.
Children no longer denied coverage for pre-existing conditions: Insurance plans can't deny coverage due to a pre-existing condition to children under age 19. For adults, the same provision goes into effect in 2014.
Prohibit insurers from rescinding coverage: It's illegal for insurers to drop a customer when they become sick or search for an error on a customer's insurance application and then deny payment for service when the person gets sick.
Free Preventive Care: All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance. If individuals keep their existing plans or if a group plan doesn't make major changes, the provisions won't kick in until the plans get changed.
No lifetime limits on coverage: Insurers no longer can impose lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays or expensive treatments.
Unrestricted doctor choice: Plans must allow pediatricians and obstetrician/gynecologists to get primary care physician status. This eliminates the requirement for patients to get prior-authorization from their insurer or a doctor's referral to see a pediatrician or OB/GYN.
Level charges for emergency services: Insurers must remove prior authorizations for ER services. Also, insurers can't charge higher co-payments or co-insurance for out-of-network ER providers.
Patient-friendly appeals process: Insurers will have to establish new internal and external appeals processes for claims. This means that while a claim is under appeal, your insurer has to continue to pay your claims, and continue paying for subsequent treatment, until the matter is resolved.
If your company renews their policy on Jan. 1 of each year, you may have to wait until Jan. 1, 2011 to receive these benefits.
Again, what I really see as the first implementation of the new Health Care legislation are some seriously needed consumer protections being enacted that will help US keep the insurance companies honest. OK! Never honest, but less completely the scumbag-at-all-times that they have been recently. And yes. They will find ways around things. That's why you pay so much for insurance! So they can hire lobbyists and lawyers to find a way to screw YOU over for profit. Ah, Capitalism!
Anyway, I hope you found this information to be of use and I hope you pass the information on to your friends and family. Let's make sure everyone we know is up to date on what their NEW and IMPROVED health care options are.
UPDATE:
President Barack Obama launches a new attempt to convince Americans of the advantages of his healthcare overhaul on Wednesday, just six weeks before an election in which the plan has proved more of a liability than a benefit for his fellow Democrats
It looks like our President is on the offensive and right exactly on time. Location, location, location? Nah. Timing is key.