With health care reform changes going into effect on January 1, 2014, it will provide affordable health insurance coverage for everyone. Even if you do not currently have an insurance plan through your employer due to the cost, or because you are unable to afford one on your own, the new plans and options available help you to get the coverage you need.
Under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, the cost of insurance coverage has been reduced to provide everyone with fair and equal medical coverage. The new insurance plans require a series of Essential Health Benefits, which all plans must include. Coverage for such items as ambulatory patient services, hospitalization, emergency services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative and habilitation services, laboratory services, preventive and wellness services, maternity and newborn care, and complete pediatric services with dental and vision care are just some of the Essential Health Benefits.
Understanding the differences between the plans for the new affordable health insurance coverage is important. There are going to be different tiers of plans available depending upon your own personal needs and requirements. Under the new laws, insurance companies are required to make their plans more easily understandable. In fact, starting in 2014, there will be four simple categories used which include bronze, silver, gold and platinum. All insurance companies must use these categories, and the coverage under each one is going to be similar from one insurance provider to the next. Additionally, there are going to be new catastrophic plans available for people under the age of 30, to supply basic coverage in the event of a job loss or economic hardship.