Long awaited health care reform was signed into law by President Obama in March, 2010. It consisted of two pieces of legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. Together they are the most far reaching health legislation since the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs in the 1960s.
The new law has implications for every system of health care in the United States, including private insurance, the public health system, Medicaid and Medicare. It creates new access and protections for all, including people with HIV/AIDS, although much of the reform is not enacted until 2014. In 2014 many changes will take place, including the reduction of discrimination by health plans due to health status, significant expansion of Medicaid, federal subsidies to help lower income individuals purchase insurance, and improvements in Medicare.
Health care reform is a huge step forward for the health of all Americans, but it doesn’t yet ensure quality health care for all in the U.S. There are still gaps in coverage and changes will be needed to fully protect people with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and other vulnerable Americans. Project Inform is working with our advocacy partners to ensure that implementation of health care reform brings an easy transition and the expanded access and affordability that it promises.
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Frequently asked questions about Health Care Reform and people living with HIV
PRESENTATION: How will people with hepatitis C benefit from Health Care Reform?