Patient Affordable Care Act Changes That Occurred in 2010:
Indoor tanning services were assessed a 10% excise tax.
A re-insurance program offset the costs of health benefits for workers age 55-64 who were forced into early retirement.
Medicare beneficiaries who fell into the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug "donut hole" received a $250 rebate. They received a 50% discount on brand name drugs in 2011, and the doughnut hole is eliminated in 2020.
Children were allowed to stay on their parents' health insurance until they turn 26.
New private plans were required to cover preventive services with no co-payments, and they are exempt from deductibles. Consumers who applied to new plans have access to an external appeals process if coverage is denied.
Insurance companies were prohibited from dropping coverage if someone got really sick. They couldn't create lifetime coverage limits. They could no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. The same will apply to adults in 2014. Until then, adults with pre-existing conditions who have been denied coverage will get access to temporary health insurance coverage until the exchanges are set up. (To see how to sign up, go to Pre-Existing Conditions.)
Patient Protection Affordable Care Act Changes in 2011:
- Medicare-covered preventative services were exempted from deductibles and the co-pay was eliminated.
- Insurance companies must prove they spent at least 80% of the premium payments on medical services, rather than on things like advertising and executive salaries. Those that didn't were required to provide rebates to policyholders.
- States were funded to require health insurance companies to submit justification for all rate hikes.
- Funds were expanded to increase the number of doctors and nurses, and more community health centers -- enough to double the number of patients they can treat in the next five years.
Medical expenses must be at least 10% of income before they are deductible for those under 65. Manufacturers and importers of medical devices will pay a 2.3% excise tax. (Click here to read more about Changes in 2013.)
Changes in 2014:
In 2014, the state-run health exchanges will be set up. Medicaid eligibility will be expanded to include those with incomes up to 133% of the Federal poverty line ($29,000 for a family of four). (Click here to read more about Changes in 2013.)
