What Health Care Reform Means for You
If you have:
Health insurance through your employer
Very little will change. Some new benefits include no lifetime dollar limits on policies, elimination of co-pays for some preventive care, and older children may stay on their parents’ policies until age 26.
Individual/family insurance you purchase on your own
You will be able to purchase health insurance through a state “exchange” starting in 2014. Although the exchanges have yet to be designed, they are intended to provide more affordable and subsidized individual and small business plans.
Medicare coverage
The “doughnut hole” in prescription drug benefits you currently receive will be gradually filled. If you have a gap in coverage this year, you will receive a $250 rebate check.
Medicaid (Healthy Options) coverage
Medicaid coverage is expanded to cover more people. Adults without children will be eligible for the first time in 2014.
No coverage
You may be eligible for expanded enrollment in Medicaid. By 2014 you will be able to purchase affordable coverage in an “exchange.” Those who do not purchase coverage in 2014 will pay a penalty.