Update on Healthcare Reform
With the passage of healthcare reform, there are a number of positive changes that will improve the quality of life for HD families. Although some of these changes will take effect later this year, a number of provisions will not become effective until January 1, 2014:
Changes that go into effect in 6 months:
- Lifetime caps will be eliminated from all insurance plans, new and existing. Insurance companies are also barred from cancelling policies when a patient gets sick.
- Children cannot be denied coverage on their parent's insurance based on a pre-existing condition.
- Insurance companies must allow children to stay on their parent's insurance plans until age 26.
Changes that go into effect in 2014:
- Denying coverage on the basis of health status, including pre-existing conditions becomes illegal.
- Annual limits will be eliminated altogether.
HDSA will be updating this website as we receive new information about healthcare reform.
Click here for a short consumer's guide to the major points in the legislation, prepared by Kaiser Health News.
Click here for a list of states that currently have high risk pools.