There are several pieces involved in the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Each of them may affect a different aspect of your current insurance coverage. The act also requires every citizen of California to have a minimum amount of insurance in place by January 1, 2014 — or suffer a yearly penalty.
There are three parts to the affordable health care for America act. The first part is the coverage. Insurance companies can no longer exclude pre-existing conditions for children under the age of 19. It also keeps young adults under their parent’s coverage (in specific circumstances) until they are 26 years old. There can no longer be arbitrary withdraws of insurance coverage, and you are guaranteed the right to appeal any decision made by your insurance provider.
The cost of the plan can be offset with tax credits and there is no lifetime limit on coverage. Insurance companies must make a public justification if they want to increase their premiums, which helps you avoid unnecessary increases in your expenses. It also makes most of your premiums go toward health care, and not administrative fees.
The act also protects your choice of doctors and stops insurance companies from denying a claim because your doctor is not in their circle of providers. It removes the barriers to emergency services, so if you have to go to the emergency room, then there will be no added penalty. For people who qualify, you can also get preventative care at no cost. This means no copayment and no fees for routine examinations and wellness services. This is only available at no cost to certain families under a set income level.