Changes to Health Care Based on the new Health Care Act

I may have contacted you in the past about health insurance , but if I have not, I'd like to offer some comments on the changes that are taking place in the market. As your friend in the health insurance industry I make it my business to find out what is going on and how it affects the people that I know. This is a general informational page only.. I offer my assistance to anyone looking for answers on health care reform. Please contact me with any questions you have.

Changes to health care

As you are probably aware, our state has joined a lawsuit to challenge health care reform. If it is successful, there will probably be few changes. If it is unsuccessful, there will be many changes that will affect you. Let me outline a few ways that it could affect you. These changes will be gradual, and the most significant will not go into effect until 2014.

1. No one will get rejected for pre-existing conditions.

2. Parents can keep their children on their plan up until 26 years old.

3. Preventative will be covered.

4. You will be fined if you don't have health insurance.

5. There will be no life time maximums. This means that you cannot run out of coverage.

6. The medicare prescription plan will be changed so that eventually there will be no "doughnut hole".

7. Increases in taxes to offset the cost of Health Care Reform　

If these changes are placed into effect, the one requiring all to have private health insurance may be the most significant in terms of cost. One of the best protections a person can have now is to take a good policy with rate loss protection for as far out as they can get it, and have a policy they want..

The other important pending new rule will be the one requiring employers that offer group plans to allow individuals to opt out of the plan and receive reimbursement equal to the cost of what the employer was paying to cover the employee.

Again, keep in mind that the most significant changes are not due to be implimented until 2014, and between now (Mar 2010) and then, there is also a significant election to be held, and with new people in elective offices, new legislation can always be enacted including changes and repeals of existing laws. No one at this agency has a bigger crystal ball than you, the reader, and all we can do at this time is to cite the law as it has been signed.

Please contact me by phone at  321-821-5394 to ask questions about how this impacts your family. If you know of anyone that needs health insurance I can offer a $25 gift certificate for referrals that lead to a new policy issuance.