If you have a health condition, you know how important having health insurance is and how expensive it can be. Worrying about where to get coverage and the cost of your care is the last thing you want to do when you are dealing with chronic illness. The health care law is expanding your options for health insurance and making them more affordable.
7 things to know:
- Under the health care law, if you have been uninsured for at least six months and have a health condition, you may be able to get health insurance through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
- If a new insurance plan doesn’t pay for services you believe were covered, you now have new, clear options to appeal the decision.
- Insurance companies can no longer drop you when you get sick just because you made a mistake on your coverage application.
- Starting in 2014, job-based and new individual plans won’t be able to exclude you from coverage or charge you a higher premium for a pre-existing condition, including a disability.
- Starting in 2014, if your income is less than the equivalent of about $88,000 for a family of four today, and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get tax credits to help pay for insurance.
- If you have insurance and have problems with your plan or questions about your coverage, get help through the Consumer Assistance Program.
- If you have been rejected for insurance, learn more about your rights and find out how to appeal denied claims.