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Anonymous
Guest
Here's a quick snap shot of the reforms that becomelaw today. A couple of these- like dropping consumers if they get sick, giving coverage to kids with pre-existing conditions, and doing away with lifetime limits are some of the most important and met the most bi-partisan agreement in the hearings......
1. Bans Insurance Companies from Dropping our Coverage When We Get Sick: In the past, insurance companies could search for an error, or other technical mistake, on a consumer's application and use this error to deny payment for services when he or she got sick. The newlaw makes this illegal.
2. Prohibits Excluding Coverage for Children With Pre-existing Conditions: Insurance plans can no longer refuse to cover children younger than 19 because they were born with or develop a serious medical condition. (A similar ban on coverage exclusions for adults goes into effect in 2014.)
3. Empowers Consumers to Appeal Insurance Company Denials: Thelaw provides consumers with a way to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company, and establishes an external review process.
4. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Young adults can stay on a parent's plan until they turn 26. If you want to put an adult child on your plan, you'll be given an opportunity to do so during a special enrollment period. (This doesn't apply to young adults who already have health insurance through a job.)
5. Provides Free Preventive Care: All new plans must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance.
6. Eliminates Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage: Under the newlaw, insurance companies will be prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, like hospital stays which, begins putting an end to medical bankruptcies in America.