Health Law Kicks In. Does it Help Me?

The new health care law is 6 months old and starts delivering protections and dollars and cents benefits that Americans can grasp. It doesn't affect us all in the same way.

Question #1: Will everyone's health insurance change today?

Answer #1: It depends on the year your health insurance plan started. Many of the new requirements begin with plan years starting on or after September 23rd. If your plan starts on January 1, as many do, that's when the change starts.

Grandfathered plans, those existed prior to law enactment date of March 23rd and remain essentially unchanged, must meet only some of the requirements. New plans and those with significant changes in benefits or out of pocket costs must comply with even more changes in the law.

Question #2: How do I know my health plan fits in all this?

Answer: If you get insurance through work, ask your employer about the changes. If you are self-insured, call your insurance company

Question #3: What are some of the new benefits?

Answer: Free preventive care for one. Some people will no longer have to pay copays, coinsurance or meet their deductibles for preventive care that's backed up by the best scientific evidence. That includes flu vaccines, mammograms, and even diet counseling for adults at-risk of chronic disease. Free preventive care isn't required of existing health plans that are grandfathered in (defined above). New plans and those that change substantially after Sept. 23rd must provide this benefit.

Question #4: What other changes start Sept. 23rd?

Answer: If you go to an emergency room outside your plan's network, you won't get charged extra. Patients will be able to designate a pediatrician or an ob-gyn as their primary care doctor, avoiding the need for referrals that are required under some plans.

Question #5: Lifetime limits eliminated? What's that mean?

Answer: Millions of Americans have insurance that sets a capt on their insurance will pay to cover their medical costs over a lifetime. The caps have left sick patients with medical bills topping $2 million. These lifetime limits will be eliminated for plans issued or renewed on or after Sept. 23rd. If you've maxed out because of the caps but remain eligible for coverage must be reinstated.

Question #6: What are annual limits? any exceptions?

Answer: Plans issued or renewed on or after Sept. 23rd can't have annual limits less than $750,000. Annual limits will be eliminated entirely by 2014. Employers and insurance companies can apply for waivers for so-called 'mini-med' plans that offer limited benefits. The intent of the waivers is to allow these low-cost plans to exist so that people don't lose their health coverage when premiums increase.

Question #7: Any changes that affect parents?

Answer: Insurers can no longer deny coverage to children with pre-existing conditions. Also, parents can keep their adult children on their health plans until age 26.

Question #8: Are these changes likely to raise health insurance premiums?

Answer: The Obama administration says the new benefits will raise premiums by no more than 1 - 2%. Benefit consulting companies say the impact will be in the single digits, but may vary from plan to plan.