Key Features of the Affordable C are Act

1. Key Features of the Affordable Care Act • The health care law offers choices for consumers and provides new ways to hold insurance companies accountable. The most important parts of the law are broken into groups below that will roll out between now and 2014. • Rights and Protections • If you have insurance, these consumer protections can help you get the most out of your plan. • Insurance Choices • If you need insurance coverage or have been rejected due to a health condition or disability, you may be eligible for coverage through one of these programs. • Insurance Costs • How does your health insurance policy affect your wallet? Find out how the law helps you get the most value for your premium dollar. • 65 or Older • The health care law strengthens Medicare and provides access to preventive services and prescription drug discounts for seniors. • Employers • Tax credits and new programs are available to small businesses to help make care more affordable for employers, employees, and early retirees. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/index.html

2. Patient's Bill of Rights • Provides Coverage to Americans with Pre-existing Conditions: You may be eligible for health coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. • Protects Your Choice of Doctors:Choose the primary care doctor you want from your plan’s network. • Keeps Young Adults Covered: If you are under 26, you may be eligible to be covered under your parent’s health plan. • Ends Lifetime Limits on Coverage: Lifetime limits on most benefits are banned for all new health insurance plans. • Ends Pre-Existing Condition Exclusions for Children: Health plans can no longer limit or deny benefits to children under 19 due to a pre-existing condition. • Ends Arbitrary Withdrawals of Insurance Coverage: Insurers can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake. • Reviews Premium Increases: Insurance companies must now publicly justify any unreasonable rate hikes. • Helps You Get the Most from Your Premium Dollars: Your premium dollars must be spent primarily on health care – not administrative costs. • Restricts Annual Dollar Limits on Coverage: Annual limits on your health benefits will be phased out by 2014. • Removes Insurance Company Barriers to Emergency Services: You can seek emergency care at a hospital outside of your health plan’s network. Since the Patient’s Bill of Rights was enacted, the Affordable Care Act has provided additional rights and protections. • The health care law: • Covers Preventive Care at No Cost to You: You may be eligible for recommended preventive health services. No copayment. • Guarantees Your Right to Appeal: You now have the right to ask that your plan reconsider its denial of payment. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/rights/bill-of-rights/index.html

3. 1 year anniv of Affordable Care Act http://www.healthcare.gov/videos/2011/03/affordable-care-act-one-year-later.html#playlist=p152265

4. Overview Slides of Affordable Health Care Act http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/07/02/affordable-care-act-numbers

5. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/28/supreme-court-upholds-president-obamas-health-care-reform#health-care-checklisthttp://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/28/supreme-court-upholds-president-obamas-health-care-reform#health-care-checklist

6. White House White Board: The Costs of Repealing Health Reform http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYvsbYyofJQ&feature=relmfu

7. Rate review- highlights what Massachusetts did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOLxRrlU7Qg