How Health Care Is Now Better In 2011 Because Of The Affordable Care Act

Major health care reforms have kicked in with the new year. For one thing, insurance companies have to spend at least 80% of of monies they receive from premiums on actual health care, not salaries or overhead.  And senior citizens get improved benefits as of now.

In 2011, the law [now] to close[s] the Medicare Part D coverage gap — the infamous “donut hole.” Seniors who reach the donut hole will now receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs, the first step in a 10 year plan to fill the hole completely. Seniors will also now receive free annual checkups, screenings and other preventive care…Add them to other reforms that have already taken effect — such as a ban on discriminating against children with pre-existing conditions, and the new right parents have of keeping their children on their family insurance plans until they’re 26 years old — and you’re talking about a bunch of stuff that would be very unpopular to repeal.

Here is the timeline of when various provisions kick in.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.