Health Reform and Women

Health Reform and Women Many women will benefit from the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. In 2010, there were nearly 19 million women ages 19 to 64 in the United States that did not have health coverage.' Approximately 526,000 of those women were uninsured Pennsylvanians – which was over 13.4% of the state's female population.? As the January 1, 2014 deadline for the individual mandate nears, more women will soon reap the benefits of this landmark legislation. Here's how: Under The Affordable Care Act Did You Know? NO GENDER RATINGS ON PREMIUMS Health insurance companies who sell individual and small group health policies will be prohibited from charging women higher rates than men for coverage. The vast majority of states allow insurance companies to charge women higher premiums than men, and in those states, 92% of health plans do just that." As of March 2012, this extended dependent coverage allowed approximately 1 million young women to have health coverage via their parents' plan. DEPENDENT COVERAGE EXTENDED TO AGE 26 Young adults up to the age of 26 are now able to be insured on their parents' plans. 26 GUARANTEED ACCESS FOR Asthma is more common among adult women than adult men. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS Starting in 2014, most health insurance providers are no longer able to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions like cancer, asthma, or depression. An estimated 805,500 women will be diagnosed with cancer in 2013. HARANTEE Nearly twice as many women as men are affected by a depressive disorder cach year. GUARANTEE 12.4 6.4 by the miliamu in Lned Sur NO COST-SHARING FOR 2.121.806 women will now have guaranteed access to certain preventive services without cost-sharing. Pennsylvania PREVENTIVE CARE The individual insurance market is now required to cover a minimum level of services, such as prenatal care, well-woman exams, mammograms and Pap tests without copays, coinsurance or deductibles. NO Copays Coinsurance Deductibles As of March 2012, more than 2 million women are already benefitting from expanded Medicare benefits, saving $1.2 billion on prescription drugs. EXPANDED MEDICARE BENEFITS Those age 65+ with Medicare now receive important medical screenings and will benefit from dosing the prescription drug "donut hole" coverage gap. 2 Million By 2021 To Date 3 Million The number is projected to grow to 3 million, saving $4.9 billion in 2021. Starting in 2014, 8.7 million more women who currently buy coverage in the individual market will gain maternity coverage. MATERNITY COVERAGE FOR ALL INDIVIDUAL PLANS Essential health benefits such as maternity and newborn care, along with vision and dental care for children will be covered in all new individual, small business and Marketplace plans (effective Jan. 1, 2014). 87 Million 1,769,000 women in Pennsylvania are already free from worrying about lifetime limits NO LIFETIME LIMITS ON HEALTH BENEFITS Insurance companies are no longer allowed to impose lifetime dollar limits on coverage for essential health benefits. Starting in 2014, non-grandfathered insurance companies will no longer be allowed to impose annual dollar limits on coverage for essential health benefits. Therefore, those suffering from chronic illnesses will be able to receive the treatment they need. its on coverage and in 2014, the law will ban annual limits. WORRY FREE ŻONE $60'70 '80 90. T 100 110 120 $50 40 $20 $10 NO LOMITS $130 $140 GEISINGER HEALTH PLAN Making health care reform work for you Sources [1] http://www.advisory.com/Daily-Briefing/2012/07/17/Et-cetera [2] http://www.nwk.orglsites/default'files/pdfa/2012aca-factsheets/penneylvania_062012bealthstateprofiles.pdf 3] http://www.cnn.com/2012/0/20/opinion/greenberger-health-premiums-gender-gaplinder.html [4] http://aspe.hhs.gowhealth/reports/2012/ACA&Women/rbahtml [5] http://www.aafi.org/display.cfm?id-98sub-42 [6] http://seer.cancer govlstatfacts/html'all.html 7) http://www.depressionperception.com/depression/depression-facts-und-statistica.html [8] http://www.healthcare gov/lawinformation-for-you/pa.html 19] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-blumenthal/affordable-care-act_b_1954414. html [10] http:/kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/7334-05.pdf General Refom Law Sources: http://www.healchcare.gov http://www.bealchcare.gov/lawlinformation-for-you/pregnant-women.biml http://kaiserfimilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/7987-02.pdf http://www.buffingtonpost.com/susan-blumenthal'affordable-care-aa_b_1954414.html