As the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (PPACA) implements new laws, certain definitions related to Ohio health insurance are changing. In this installment of Ohio Life and Health, we’re reviewing medical insurance terms, which have an ambiguous connotation and how it influences who need a new Ohio health insurance policy:
Disease management with the PPACA, disease management is key to reducing health care costs and enhancing the life quality of individuals living with a terminal medical condition. Patients, medical providers and Ohio health insurance companies will coordinate efforts to minimize in-patient care, by focusing on health on education, outpatient care and at home care.
Grandfathered plan Not all Ohio health insurance plans have to incorporate the stipulations, as defined in the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act. As a result, any enrollments made prior to March 23, 2010 are exempt from the requirements of PPACA, and thus named, ‘grandfathered plans’. Also, employees as well as new family members may be added to all grandfathered plans. (In other words, any Ohio medical insurance policies that were in existence prior to President Obama signing the bill will stay in effect)
Guaranteed issue a component of the PPACA, requiring insurance company sell coverage to any consumer. Although the PPACA has a clause requiring a “guaranteed issue,” Ohio health insurance companies have until 2014 to offer such plans.
Essential Benefits are another proposed change that becomes effective in 2014. Essential Ohio health insurance plans will have to provide a basic package of “essential benefits.” These include
- Hospitalization
- Outpatient services,
- Maternity care
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency care and
- Preventive services
The provision also imposes a limit on the amount of cost-sharing that patients have to remit for these services.
In the interim, for those in quest of short term health plan, should keep the aforementioned guidelines in mind. Obtain Ohio health insurance quotes today.