It's Almost Here!

As of now (January 2013), several aspects of the ACA (Affordable Care Act or Patient Protection Act or "Obamacare") have been implemented. First, children under the age of 19 with any pre-existing condition can now be insured and an insurance company cannot decline them. Second, all plans now must now cover 100% of a policy holder's preventative care expenses without co-pay or deductible. Finally, insurance companies have also been forced to adhere to the 80% MLR rule where they must pay at least 80% of all premiums received to patient medical claims.

I hate to tell you the bad news, but it is best to get a dose of reality earlier than it is to have a shock when bad things hit. Despite the fact that our leaders told us that we could expect lower healthcare rates, you'll be paying more for health insurance next year. Politicians have a funny way of doing things and often the name of their legislation is an indication of the coming irony. While the sweeping healthcare law that passed in 2009 became dubbed, "Obamacare", the formal name for the legislation is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.