Your patients look to you not just as a caregiver but also as a trusted source for information on the health law and how it affects them. You can share HealthCareandYou.org as an important resource with your patients. The site features facts about the law and an exclusive state-by-state listing of health care coverage options. Soon, a chat feature will allow users to ask specific questions about the law.
HealthCareandYou.org can also be a good business resource for your practice. It includes a timeline indicating when elements of the law go into effect and will be updated to reflect any changes Congress may make.
I encourage you to check out HealthCareandYou.org. I believe it will be a good resource for us and our patients.
Thanks,
Roland Goertz, MD, FAAFP, AAFP President
The health care law aims to make health coverage more affordable and accessible for individuals and families. In Maine, some changes have already taken place. Others will be phased in from now through 2014. We will continue to keep you up-to-date with the latest news on the health care law and what you can expect in the months and years ahead.
What You Need to Know About Health Care in Maine:
- In 2011, those in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” will automatically receive a 50 percent discount on certain name-brand drugs and a 7 percent discount on generic drugs.
- Young adults up to age 26 can now stay on their parent’s health plan.
- A pre-existing condition insurance plan in Maine run through the Dirigo Health Agency is available for adults who have been uninsured for at least 6 months and have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Also, children up to age 19 can’t be denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. (By 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage to anyone with pre-existing conditions.)
- Some small businesses can get tax credits to help pay for the cost of covering their employees.
- Insurance companies can’t put dollar limits on the care that is covered in your lifetime.
For more information