The Affordable Care Act enacted in 2010 includes the following for adults and those approaching or already in retirement.
65 and Older
The Affordable Care Act strengthens Medicare, offers eligible seniors a range of preventive services with no cost-sharing, and provides discounts on drugs when in the coverage gap known as the “donut hole.” Learn how the health care law affects people age 65 or older.
Medicare Preventive Services
If you are new to Medicare, your “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit is now covered without cost sharing during your first 12 months of Part B coverage. This exam is a one-time review of your health as well as education and counseling about preventive services and other care. If you’ve had Part B for longer than 12 months, you can get a yearly wellness visit to develop or update a personalized prevention plan based on your current health and risk factors.
Starting January 1, 2011, if you reach the coverage gap in your Medicare Part D coverage, you will automatically get a 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs. You receive the discount when you buy them at a pharmacy or order them through the mail, until you reach the catastrophic coverage phase. You can expect additional savings on your covered brand-name and generic drugs while in the coverage gap until the gap is closed in 2020.
Other ACA features
State Consumer Assistance Programs help you file complaints and appeals, enroll in health coverage, and learn about your rights and responsibilities as a health care consumer.
You have the right to choose the doctor you want from your plan’s network or seek emergency care at a hospital outside of your health plan’s network.
You have the right to keep your “grandfathered” health plan if you were covered before the health care law was enacted.
Insurance companies can no longer cancel your coverage just because you made an honest mistake on your application.
If you have been rejected for insurance due to a health condition or disability, you may be eligible for coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
Starting in 2014, you will be able to shop for insurance and compare health plans in new state-based Affordable Insurance Exchanges.
Starting in 2014, you or your small business may be able to buy insurance from a new type of non-profit, consumer-run health insurer, called a Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP).
Lifetime limits on most benefits are banned for all new health insurance plans. Annual limits on your health benefits are now restricted and will be phased out by 2014.
Complete ACA information on the official U.S. government ACA page