Urban Call — Healthy Living Every Day!
Understanding the Affordable Care Act: What It Means for You Health care reform became law on March 23, 2010, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed by President Obama. For customers of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the following provisions are effective: Dependents may stay on their parents’ plan until age 26, (the law also states that “dependents” do not have to live with their parents, be claimed as a dependent on tax returns, may be married and do not have to be enrolled in school). • Preventive care and medical screenings are covered in-network at 100 percent, with no cost sharing. This includes immunizations, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force-recommended services, and screenings for women, infants, children and adolescents. • Annual dollar limits on essential benefits are eliminated.
Visit SMSiUrbanCallHealth.com for basic health insurance information
Steve Harvey
10
Mentoring Our Children
Susan L. Taylor
Jerry Stackhouse
Patti LaBelle
8
Fighting Diabetes in Our Community
• Children under age 19 will no longer be subject to pre-existing condition waiting periods or exclusions and can’t be denied coverage. • Policies may only be rescinded for fraud or intentional misrepresentation on the part of the applicant.
Denzel Washington
Inside...
Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, in the Oval Office.
• There are no lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits. Health care costs continue to rise at an alarming rate. Americans are required to buy health insurance. For those who can’t afford it on their own, subsidies will be available to people who meet eligibility criteria: • Premium subsidies will be provided to lower the amount of premium the individual or family must pay for their coverage on a month-to-month basis. • Cost-sharing assistance will limit out-of-pocket costs (i.e., deductibles, coinsurance or copayments) that would otherwise be charged at the point of service. In order to obtain health insurance subsidies an individual must be a citizen or national of the United States, or a lawfully present immigrant who files a tax return. They must be enrolled in a plan offered through a Health Benefits Exchange (“Exchange”) and meet income guidelines (see page 9). If they are eligible for Medicaid or Medicare they generally will not need other insurance coverage.
2
Sandra Miller Jones
Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. Founder & CEO
Lafayette Jones
Publisher, Urban Call; SMSi-Urban Call Marketing, Inc. President & CEO
From our family to yours Welcome to another edition of Urban Call. It is a great pleasure to work with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and the goal of helping more people have access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act. We know that health outcomes improve when access to appropriate medical care is available. We are happy that our SMSi Ambassadors will be out in the community helping people understand their new options. As always, our motto continues to be: Healthy Living Every Day!
You’re invited to attend a meeting in your community to learn about the Affordable Care Act. • See Community Health Forums, page 2