Working Together For Michigan Consumers To be Healthy

Facts

Health Reform Basics

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), know less formally as healthcare reform, was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The ACA will give Americans new rights and benefits, including helping more children get health coverage, ending lifetime and most annual limits on care, and giving patients access to recommended preventive services without cost-sharing.

These reforms will apply to all new health plans, and to many existing health plans as they are renewed. Many other new benefits of the law have already taken effect, including rebate checks for seniors in the Medicare donut hole and tax credits for small businesses. And more rights, protections and benefits for Americans are on the way now through 2014.

The new law is complex, and there are many provisions even the “experts” don’t yet understand. The law creates what are called “navigators” who are people trained and certified by the federal government to answer your questions for free. You can locate a federaly certified navigator in your community at enrollmichigan.com. You can get help finding health insurance today at Healthcare.gov.

This video from the Kaiser Family Foundation explains all the important details in less than 10 minutes!

Information on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Today in Michigan there are 1.1 million people are without insurance. Every Michigan family with insurance pays $730 per year for emergency room care for the uninsured, the most expensive form of care available. Health care costs even contribute $1200-$1600 to the price of every vehicle made by our domestic auto companies here in Michigan.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the single most important reform of America’s health care system in decades and it profoundly effects Michigan citizens and small businesses:

  • Health care costs will be reduced for the middle class due to tax credits, subsidies and new restirctions on profit taking by insurance companies.
  • Medicare will be strengthened for seniors
  • It outlaws discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions
  • It reduces costs and makes coverage more affordable for people without it today
  • It sets up a new competitive marketplace where small business owners and families get the same buying power and insurance choices that all members of Congress will have to allow them to shop for the insurance plan that works best for them.

If you like the plan you have and it meets minimum qualty standards, then you can keep it. If you like your doctor, nothing takes that choice away. You will also have more consumer protections, greater control over the insurance you have and your health coverage can’t be canceled if you become sick.