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Depending on who is doing the talking, the Affordable Healthcare Act is either the best thing or the worst thing to ever happen in America's history. Both sides are working to spin events to their own advantage, but what are the effects in the average peoples' lives? In the next decade over 33 million Americans are estimated to have medical insurance who would not otherwise. Medicaid has been expanded to cover families with income at 133% of the poverty line and below. Families with income less than 400% of poverty will have premiums capped at 9.5% of their income or less. While insurance companies will still set rates according to tobacco usage, age, and family makeup, they can no longer deny coverage due to preexisting conditions. Despite all of these positives, the ACA is negatively affecting some. Many Americans are losing the coverage that they currently have. Most Medicare recipients and people who have group insurance, such as through their employer, will not experience much change in their coverage. However, any insurance plans that do not comply with the value requirements laid out by the ACA will be cancelled. The good news is that new and improved plans will be available from insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield NC to replace any plans cancelled for noncompliance. And, as provisions and reforms of the new law are enacted they are estimated to save families over $2,500 per year by 2019. The new law may have unexpected consequences for individuals requiring hospitalization. Many of the nation's top hospitals have opted out of accepting insurances from all but a few companies operating through the exchanges. This is even true of companies whose insurance would be accepted had the plan not been through an exchange. Hospitals cite concerns that people purchasing plans through the exchanges are high risk and will over use the system. Of those hospitals only accepting a few of the insurances through the exchanges, many do accept versions of Blue Cross. Many Americans are skeptical that the new law will have positive outcomes. Critics have pointed out that a person's health is tied to their lifestyle and genetic predispositions, neither of which will be improved by the ability to buy health insurance. A large percentage of the uninsured feel that the insurance will not be affordable. Both fear that it will sabotage a still-struggling economy. Some low-income individuals fear losing benefits from charity or nonprofit medical programs that they qualified for at no cost. One such program is the one run by WellSpan, which people can no longer qualify for if they have insurance. Seniors also stand to lose under the new healthcare laws. These laws include deep cuts to Medicare Advantage, a Medicare private health care option, which will lead to half of the almost 25% of seniors who depend upon the program will lose their coverage. New taxes on drug and medical device companies will raise expenses and new regulations on doctors will make it more difficult for seniors to receive the care and services they need. Elliot is a leading insurance agent with Blue Cross Blue Shiedl of NC and Direct Marketing Associates, an award winning insurance agency serving Asheville North Carolina. Elliot has been providing health insurance plans and information for individuals and employers for over twenty years. Visit http://www.ncinsuranceplansonline.com for rates and information.
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Affordable Healthcare Act, Blue Cross Blue Shield NC, Asheville, health plans, insurance plans,
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