The implementation of the Health Care Reform Act will have an impact on America’s health brokers and most U.S. citizens as well. Division A of the Health Care Reform Act will be of particular interest to those who are in need of an affordable medical plan. As defined by Section 100(2), “This division achieves its purpose by building on the current health care system, while repairing those aspects that are broken.”
Section 100(3) maps out four specific changes that will be implemented to the existing system: (A) Strong insurance market reforms, (B) A new Health Insurance Exchange, with a public health insurance option alongside private plans, (C) Sliding scale affordability credits and (D) Shared responsibility among workers, employers and the government. The Goal-all Americans have coverage of essential health benefits.
(A) Strong insurance market reforms-This will affect the American citizens just as greatly as it affects America’s health brokers. One of the major changes will be that no one can be turned down or dropped from health insurance plan because of a pre-existing condition. But the reforms go much further than that-many deal with care, in relation to counseling, therapy, and substance abuse treatment. Also, there are reforms that relate to prescription medications. Finally, health HMO’s may need to restructure their policies on preventative measures, because there are reforms in that area as well. Though it may seem that the market reforms lean towards favoring the individual, this is not necessarily the case. America’s health brokers will benefit from a larger enrollment populace, so the numbers may actually be more favorable for them.
(B) A new Health Insurance Exchange, with a public health insurance option alongside private plans-Americans will benefit in the fact that there will be more opportunities for a health medical plan. Not only will there be an opportunity to choose from a private plan, but also many new possibilities for a group health plan or an individual healthcare plan. The details of the exchange have not been finalized, but it will afford the opportunity for cheap health insurance plans. America’s health brokers can map out new policies that offer care for all individuals within different wage earnings. The good news is that employers, the government and the individuals who have the medical insurance plan will all be contributing to the benefits.
(C) Sliding scale affordability credits-This policy is extremely beneficial to all who are involved. It creates affordability based on wages. This means that the individual with the low cost health insurance coverage will not be paying more than he/she can afford. As stated above, the government and employers will also be contributing. This makes it easier for America’s health brokers to devise different policies that suit the needs of everyone.
