Understanding the health care law shouldn’t feel like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Although with so much information out there, it can sometimes be difficult to weed out the facts from the fiction. This presentation will help you debunk some of the myths and have a clearer understanding of the changes and improvements in the law and how each applies to you. Learn what the health care law means for: People with health insurance. People who are uninsured or buy their own coverage. Small business owners. People with Medicare. People planning for their long-term care.

1. Demystifying
The Health Care Law

2. Agenda
Supreme Court’s Ruling
What the health care law means for:
 People with health insurance
 People who are uninsured or
buy their own coverage
 People with Medicare
 People planning for their long-term care
 AARP’s Health Law Guide
2

3. Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that the majority of the
critically important provisions of the Affordable
Care Act are constitutional
3

4. Supreme Court Decision
• The individual mandate is constitutional
• States have the option to expand Medicaid
4

5. What’s Next?
5

6. People with Health Insurance
Things You Need to Know
6

7. Ends discriminatory insurance practices
 Insurance companies can’t drop coverage if you
get sick (Now)
 Insurance companies have to justify increases to
premiums (Now)
 Children under age 19 can’t be denied coverage
for a pre-existing condition (Now)
7

8. Eliminates lifetime and annual coverage
limits
 Insurance companies can’t place lifetime limits
on your coverage (Now)
 Insurance companies can’t place annual limits
on your coverage (2014)
8

9. Requires coverage for preventive services
 Applies to most insurance plans
 Covers more preventive care
 Mammograms
 Immunizations
 Screenings for cancer
or diabetes
9

10. People Who Are Uninsured
Or Buy Their Own Coverage
Things You Need to Know
10

11. Creates Health Insurance Exchanges
 Makes it easier to buy health insurance
 Offers health insurance plans by 2014
11

12. Creates Health Insurance Exchanges
 Offers comprehensive benefits
 Several levels of coverage
12

13. Provides Help Paying for Insurance
 Starting 2014
 For health insurance purchased through an
exchange
13

14. Extends coverage to young adults
 Adult children can stay on your policy until age 26
 Adult children can be covered even if they:
 Live with you
 Are married
 Are no longer in school
14

15. Option for States to Expand Medicaid
 Starts in 2014
 Your state has the option to expand coverage to
more people
 Must meet income limits to be eligible
15

16. Provides temporary coverage for people
with pre-existing conditions
 “Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan” (PCIP)
 You must be uninsured for at least 6 months and
have a pre-existing health condition
 Information about the PCIP in your state is
available NOW!
www.pcip.gov 16

17. Provides temporary coverage for people
with pre-existing conditions
 Covers a range of benefits
 Covers pre-existing conditions
 Ends when exchanges start in 2014
www.pcip.gov
17

18. People Who Have Medicare
Things You Need to Know
18

19. For People with Medicare
 Protects guaranteed Medicare benefits
 Improves Medicare benefits
 Lowers out-of-pocket costs
for prescription drugs
19

20. Lowers out-of-pocket drug costs
The doughnut hole will gradually disappear
2012: 50% discount on brand name
drugs; 14% discount on generics
By 2020:
• Coverage gap will disappear
• Part D cost sharing will remain
20

21. Medicare Drug Coverage
Initial Benefit Doughnut Hole Catastrophic
Benefit
50% discount
You pay: Deductible and 25% for Brand Name You pay: 5% of drug costs
of drug costs and 14% for
Generic

22. Covers more preventive services
Adds a free annual wellness visit
Expands coverage for preventive
care
 No copayments or deductibles
for Medicare-approved
preventive care
Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227
www.medicare.gov
22

23. People Receiving for Long-Term Care
Things You Need to Know
23

24. More information about nursing homes
 Makes it easier to file complaints
 Extends financial protections
www.medicare.gov/NHcompare
24

25. Key points to remember about the ACA:
 Increases consumer protections
Makes health insurance more accessible
 Improves and expands Medicare-covered benefits
Increases protections for people in nursing homes
25

26. For More Information
Visit
www.aarp.org/healthlawguide
26

27. Upcoming Web Events
www.aarp.org/healthwebinars
27