Affordable Care Act: An Overview of the New Health Care Reform Law

In summary, the new health reform law will:

• Expand coverage for all communities and especially benefit communities of color that lack access to insurance by making insurance affordable.
• Set up a new competitive health insurance market giving millions of Americans the same choices of insurance that members of Congress will have.
• Help to eliminate health disparities and promote health equity.
• End discrimination against Americans with pre-existing conditions.

The new health reform law makes changes to our nation’s health care system in several important areas:

• Expanding Health Insurance Coverage
• Reforming the Health Insurance Industry

Six Month Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

In just six months, the Affordable Care Act has produced major transformation to the U.S. health care system:

• New consumer protections will keep health care affordable and guarantee health coverage is available.
• Increase the availability of insurance for children and young adults under the age of 26.
• New plans will cover no-cost preventive care.

The new Patient Bill of Rights is a provision of the Affordable Care Act that went into effect on September 23, 2010. The Patient’s Bill of Rights puts an end to some of the worst insurance company abuses, and puts consumers, not insurance companies, in control of their health care. Individuals will be able to receive the following benefits under the law:

• Prevents Caps on Coverage
• No Denial of Coverage for Mistakes
• Cover Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
• Young Adults Can Stay on Parent’s Plan
• No Cost Preventive Care

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