WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI) and Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA), today celebrated the six-month anniversary of the health reform bill being signed into law. Today, a number of important consumer provisions - a "Patient’s Bill of Rights" - go into effect.
“For too long insurance companies have had control over patients’ health and pocketbooks, many times leaving them without health coverage when they need it most," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander M. Levin (D-MI). “The Patient’s Bill of Rights hands the reins back to American families and their physicians. The provisions implemented today put an end to the most egregious insurance company abuses while building on the Affordable Care Act policies to provide affordable health coverage to more Americans."
"Beginning today, Americans across the country will start to benefit from the consumer protections in the health reform law," said Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA). "These protections stop the worst discriminatory policies by insurance companies, and increase people's security in their health plans. The Republican plan to repeal is nothing more than a pledge to health insurance companies, not the American people."
Several important provisions take effect for plan years starting on or after today. If you are privately-insured:
• Your health coverage cannot be arbitrarily cancelled if you become sick;
• Your child cannot be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition;
• Your child up to age 26 can stay on your health plan;
• Your health plan cannot put a lifetime limit on your health coverage;
• Your health plan's annual limits are phased out over three years.
If you are purchasing a new plan, you will have the following additional protections:
• You have the right to vital preventive services without deductible or co-payments;
• You have the right to both an internal and external appeal;
• You have the right to choose your own doctor;
• You have the right to access to out-of-network emergency room care at in-network cost-sharing rates.
For more information on these provisions, please visit this fact sheet: https://www.speaker.gov/pdf/PatientsBillofRights.pdf
