WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today President Obama announced the enactment of new consumer protections included in the Affordable Care Act, adding to the growing list of implementation accomplishments since the bill was signed into law 90 days ago. The new regulations will eliminate discriminatory practices that for years have prevented Americans from receiving the care they deserve.
“For decades insurance companies have had free reign to make decisions that put profits ahead of patients," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI). “The regulations announced today and the landmark reforms in the Affordable Care Act usher in a new era where the priority is delivering quality care to patients. Health reform enacted long overdue consumer protections and gave Federal and State governments tools to hold insurance companies accountable, preventing them from socking patients with unjustified rate increases."
The regulations being issued today implement the following protections:
*
Prohibits insurance plans from denying coverage or limiting benefits for children with pre-existing conditions
*
Protects choice of doctors
*
Removes insurance company barriers to emergency department services
*
Bans arbitrary rescissions of insurance coverage
*
Prohibits insurance plans from placing lifetime limits on coverage
*
Prevents restricting the annual dollar limits on coverage by insurance plans
