Know Your Rights - Under the Affordable Care Act

Passed in 2010, the health care law provides important protections for all health care consumers.  It has key provisions that are beneficial for people living with arthritis. These apply whether you have job-based insurance, get individual coverage through the Health Exchange Marketplace or directly from an insurer.

It delivers the following rights and benefits, among others:

• Prohibits insurers from denying coverage to people with a pre-existing condition.
• Allows children to stay on their parents’ insurance up to age 26.
• Provides preventive care in several areas, including blood pressure, hepatitis and depression screenings, vaccinations and diet counseling.
• Prevents lifetime and yearly dollar limits on coverage of essential health benefits.
• Prohibits insurers from canceling your insurance coverage because you get sick or because you made an honest mistake.
• Requires insurers to publicly explain any rate increase of 10% or more before raising your premium. 
• Protects your right to use out-of-network emergency room care without penalty (if you bought your plan after March 23, 2010).
• Guarantees your right to appeal any decision by your insurer. And your insurer has to let you know how you can dispute their decisions.

For additional information about your rights under the Affordable Care Act, visit healthcare.gov.