Implementation Of Obamacare – The Affordable Care Act
I’m watching a webinar put on by the State Bar of Arizona about the implementation of Obamacare, or the “Affordable Care Act.” The major points of the implementing the AFA are:
- To expand Medicaid coverage to those under 65 and who have income under 100% of the federal poverty rate;
- To create an insurance exchange run by the State or Federal Government to organize and consolidate the marketing of health insurance plans & to provide for a subsidy to those earning between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty rate;
- To prohibit health insurance companies from denying coverage for a preexisting condition and to prohibit the imposition of lifetime coverage limits.
The law requires that the insurance exchange must be ready to accept applications 10/1/13 for effective coverage start dates of 1/1/14. Arizona State Governor Brewer has opted to not set up an exchange operated by the State of Arizona, which will require the Federal government to establish an exchange for Arizona.
AHCCS is Arizona’s publicly provided health insurance. It is the largest insurer in Arizona, with over 1.2 million enrollees. It covers over 50% of the new child births in Arizona.
Obamacare was passed with what are called its “Triple Aims”:
- Improved Health
- Improved Healthcare
- Reduced Cost
