The Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010, has a number of provisions that will be implemented in phases, through 2014. During the coming year, there are several additions to the scope of the healthcare reform act. Here is a summary of what you can expect to see in 2013:
Improving quality – The Affordable Care Act gives funding to state Medicare programs that offer preventive care for little or no cost. This will help more people have access to basic preventive care programs, and will help people take control over their health.
Lowering costs – Medical professionals will be encouraged to bundle costs to submit to Medicare, rather than continuing the current practice of submitting individual claims for each test and procedure. This is projected to save money for both Medicare and the healthcare provider, and also should improve the quality of patient care.
Increasing access to health care – By paying physicians 100% of Medicare payment rates and funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the law will ensure more people have access to quality healthcare.
These changes will affect your access to health care, and should improve your ability to seek care, no matter what type of insurance plan you have. With these changes, it’s a good time to review your own health insurance coverage. If you need to purchase personal health insurance, or upgrade an existing plan, call the independent insurance experts at Benefit Packages. We’ve been helping California residents find the right affordable health insurance for over 25 years.