What the ACA Means for You

Now that the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act we thought we would remind you of the benefits of this bill. Below is a timeline of when aspects of the bill have or will go into effect:

Already in effect:

• Individuals who were not been able to find coverage because of a pre-existing condition are eligible for subsidized coverage through a high-risk insurance program 
• Many insurance plans are prohibited from placing lifetime limits on medical coverage 
• Insurance companies can no longer cancel policies of people who become ill 
• Children with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage 
• Dependent children can remain on their parents' health insurance plans until age 26 
• Senior citizens receive more help paying for drugs in Medicare 
• There is more oversight of premium increases 

In 2014:

• State insurance marketplaces called “exchanges" will be created
• Individuals with pre-existing conditions will no longer be denied insurance
• State Medicaid programs will be expanded
• All lifetime and annual limits on coverage would be eliminated 
• Employers with 50 or more workers could face federal fines for not providing insurance coverage
• Individuals who do not obtain coverage could face a tax (In the first year they would owe $95, or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater. The penalty would then increase to $695, or 2 percent of income. Families who fall below the income-tax filing thresholds would not owe anything. Nor would people who cannot find a policy that costs less than 8 percent of their income.) 

We also have written A LOT about health care reform over the last few years, see more information about this important bill below:

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act- And You
• What Women Gain from the ACA 
• Online Tools to Help Decipher the Health Care Bill 
• Some Ways the Health Care Reform Law Affect You in 2011 
• How Health Care Reform Helps Pennsylvanians 
• Watch: Health Reform Hits Main Street