The Affordable Care Act, or healthcare reform, has brought with it many changes and will continue to bring many more during the next few years. Even though the legislation was fraught with argument, these changes were designed to level the playing field and provide valuable protections to individuals while improving access to personal health insurance coverage. Here is what you need to know about the healthcare reform legislation.
1. Children with pre-existing medical conditions can no longer be denied insurance. Even though the policies can be expensive, kids under the age of 19 who have pre-existing medical conditions will now have access to health insurance. Plus, adults with pre-existing coverage will also have equal access to insurance as of 2014. In 2014, insurance providers will also not be able to charge those with pre-existing medical conditions higher premiums, meaning coverage will not only be more accessible, but it will also be more affordable.
2. Children will be able to remain on their parents’ policies until the age of 26. Before the Affordable Care Act, kids were only allowed to remain on their parents’ plans until they were 19 unless they were full-time college students. Now, regardless of whether an adult child is enrolled in college, financially independent, married, or living at home, he or she can stay on his or her parents’ plan, which can be dramatically less costly in many instances.
3. Health coverage providers may no longer rescind plans unless there is evidence of fraud or deliberate misrepresentation. Previously, the practice of cancellation, when health coverage companies could revoke plans at will, meant many people were left without health insurance when they needed it the most.
4. Yearly and lifetime caps will be removed. This means that serious chronic medical conditions or catastrophic diseases will no longer max out a policy. Yet, health insurance providers will still be able to apply restrictions to nonessential health care services.
5. Individuals will be entitled to an explanation and appeals process when their claims are denied, and the process must be expedited for urgent care.
No matter what type of health insurance California you are looking for, the agents at Sofi Insurance can help you find an affordable health coverage plan that could help you pay for your health care expenses.