Cohen: Health Care Reforms Start Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) announced that several important consumer protection features of health reform are set to go into effect today, six months after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama. Better known as the Patient’s Bill of Rights, these provisions seek to end insurance company abuses, and put consumers and their doctors back in control of their own care.

“The health care reforms that begin today will help end the most egregious practices made by the insurance industry,” said Congressman Cohen, who supported the historic measure. “Now young Memphians can stay on their parents’ insurance until their 26th birthday. Also, Memphians will no longer be subject to lifetime caps on what health insurance will pay, or risk losing their coverage when they get sick. These new provisions are the next step toward a healthier nation and more sustainable health care costs. These changes mean the difference between life and death or security and bankruptcy for millions of families across the country.”

For plan years beginning on or after September 23, 2010, all privately-insured Americans will have the following protections:

• Health coverage cannot be arbitrarily cancelled if you become sick.
• Children cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
• Children up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ health plan.
• Health insurance giants cannot put a lifetime limit on health coverage.
• Health plans’ annual limits are phased out over three years.

Beginning Thursday, consumers purchasing new plans will have the following additional protections:

• Patients have the right to choose their own doctor.
• Preventive services will be available without deductable or co-payments.
• Patients have the right to both an internal and external appeal of insurers’ coverage decisions.
• Patients have the right to access out-of-network emergency room care at in-network cost-sharing rates.