Picture Better Health.
Understanding the health care law, one piece at a time.
Putting you, not insurance companies, back in charge of your health care.
The coverage assurance provisions of the health care law help protect consumers by ensuring they are not denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. It also protects against losing coverage due to mistakes or omissions on applications. Finally, it will eliminate annual and lifetime limits on coverage.
Pre-existing condition protections
Children: Health plans that cover children can no longer exclude, limit or deny coverage to your child under the age of 19 solely based on a health problem or disability that your child developed before you applied for coverage.
Adults: Uninsured adults with pre-existing conditions in every state now have access to coverage through the new, temporary Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan. The program will operate until 2014, when insurance companies can no longer deny or limit coverage or charge higher premiums to anyone because of a pre-existing condition.
Insurance coverage cancellation protections
The health care law prohibits insurers from canceling your coverage because of unintentional mistakes or minor omissions on an application. As long as you pay your premiums, your health insurance is guaranteed.
Lifetime and annual limit protections
Lifetime limits: Insurers can no longer limit how much they will pay out in essential medical services over a person's lifetime.
Annual limits: The law phases out annual limits. Annual limits will be completed banned starting Jan. 1, 2014.