ABC's of Health Care Reform and You

Access

Currently 47 million Americans lack health insurance. With an individual mandate for coverage, set to begin in 2014, roughly 32 million more Americans will have some level of health insurance. (Undocumented immigrants are excluded from the law.)
There are approximately 400,000 uninsured individuals on Long Island.
By current federal law, hospitals cannot deny care to anyone who comes to the emergency room. This means the cost of emergency room care is not fully covered and, in some cases, is never covered, which creates a loss for the hospital. Taxpayers and insured consumers help subsidize the cost of this care.
On Long Island, individuals and families without health insurance can apply for one of the public insurance programs offered by the state – Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, Medicaid. Eligibility depends on income. The Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, through its Facilitated Enrollment Program, offers application assistance for these programs. Go to www.coverage4healthcare.com.
Beginning 2014, when State Insurance Exchanges open, the law provides for navigators to help Americans understand and purchase the appropriate insurance.

In September 2010, the federal law required insurers to cover adult children up to the age of 26 on parents’ health insurance. In New York it is age 29. (This age limit was put into effect by the New York State Legislature in 2009 and it differs slightly from the federal law.)
Approximately 2.5 million more young adults now have health insurance as a result of this policy in the Affordable Care Act. This is according to the National Health Interview Survey (National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The law does not change Medicare eligibility or access to care. Whether seniors/disabled persons have traditional Medicare coverage or opt for coverage by aMedicare Advantage plan (a private insurance plan contracted by Medicare) their access to current physicians and hospitals remains the same, as outlined in their chosen coverage plan – traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage.

Those who are diabetic, obese, suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, asthma and other chronic conditions will be able to access more educational and clinical services geared to helping them control and/or overcome their conditions. Adults with pre-existing conditions also now have access to coverage through the high-risk pool. In New York, the Bridge Plan provides affordable coverage for these high-risk individuals.

As of September 2010, the law no longer allows insurers to deny insurance coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

Adults with pre-existing conditions also now have access to coverage. In New York, the Bridge Plan provides affordable coverage for these high-risk individuals.
The Bridge Plan is temporary until the State Insurance Exchanges become active in 2014.

Small businesses, beginning in 2014, will be able to offer their employees options for purchasing affordable health insurance. These include referring employees to the exchange and/or deciding to purchase affordable group insurance for their employees, subsidized partly by tax credits.