Changes Under the New Legislation:
Existing individual and employer-sponsored health plans will be allowed to remain essentially the same; except they will be required to comply with the following:
- Lifetime and annual limits on coverage, based upon dollar value of benefits will be prohibited.
- Prohibits cost sharing (for example: copays, deductibles, co-insurance) for certain preventive services.
- For plans not in existence prior to March 23, 2010, mandates coverage for preventive services specified by the US Preventive Services Task Force; immunizations recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC; and preventive services and screenings as provided for in guidelines supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration.
- Young adults to age 26 will be allowed to continue on their parent’s family health insurance if the plan provides dependent coverage.
- Ensure access to a parent’s health plan for children with pre-existing conditions and prohibits limitations on pre-existing conditions for children to age 19.
- Prohibits health plans from rescinding once a plan has been issued, except in cases of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact.
- Waiting periods for coverage will be limited to no more than 90 days.
To review a full outline of provisions of the bill effective in 2010 go to
http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8023-R.pdf.
