The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
Here are 214 words to describe the Affordable Care Act and the implementation process.
In the following months, additional provisions of the Affordable Care Act will be available, including critical new consumer protections for Americans and their families that end the worst insurance company abuses by banning discrimination based on pre-existing health conditions, ending annual limits on what an insurance company will cover, and giving all Americans access to health care plans that cap out-of-pocket medical costs for the first time.
We wanted to debunk some of the other myths about Obamacare – here are 214 words to describe the law.
Ed. note: This list is from healthcare.gov. See the original post here.
- If you have health coverage you like, you can keep it. Children under 26 can stay on a parent’s health insurance plan.
- If you don’t have coverage, you can use the new Health Insurance Marketplace to buy a private insurance plan.
- Pre-existing conditions are covered. So are many preventive services and 10 essential health benefits.
- Depending on your family size and income, you may get lower costs on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
- You may also qualify for free or low-cost coverage from Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Many states are expanding Medicaid to cover more people in 2014.
- If you don’t have coverage in 2014 you’ll have to pay a fee. In 2014 it’s $95 per adult ($47.50 per child) or 1% of income, whichever is higher. The family max is $285.
- If you have coverage and want to explore Marketplace plans, you can. But if you have an offer of insurance from an employer, you may not be able to get lower costs on Marketplace insurance based on your income. It depends on whether the insurance you’re offered is considered affordable and meets minimum standards.
- Medicare isn’t part of the Marketplace. If you have Medicare, keep it.
- Marketplace open enrollment starts October 1, 2013. It closes March 31, 2014.
Now that we’ve told you about the health care law in 214 words, tell us in a Tweet why health insurance is important to you. Use the hashtag #214words. Or leave us a comment on Facebook using 14 words or less.
