In a recent study by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, the data compiled from the last five years under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was released. During this time, 939,000 New Yorkers have gained coverage. The rate of the uninsured has fallen by 40%, and there were many other benefits that started affecting New Yorkers the minute the new legislation was adopted. Here are some of the most profound effects the Affordable Healthcare Act has had on New York residents.
Employer Coverage
New Yorkers covered under their employers have seen valuable additions to their health care plans. One important area of improvement has been the lifetime and annual limits for the insured. Limits were used to cap the amount insurance companies paid toward medical expenses. Under the ACA, this is no longer allowed.
There is another important addition to employer coverage made by the ACA. Young adults under the age of 26 can now have continuous coverage under their parents’ insurance. Many young adults are now getting the care they need. Families have one less thing to worry about.
Medicaid
There was an expansion of the qualifications for Medicaid, which helped thousands of new families enroll. This probably had the greatest impact of the entire program. Some families could not afford reliable insurance or meet high premiums before the act. Now, more New Yorkers can receive care when they need it. This equates to saving 170 New York lives due to medical related deaths each year.
Medicare
People covered by Medicare are receiving new benefits, too. 74% of New York seniors took advantage of the free preventative care option. They are enrolled in Medicare Plan B. That is 1,486,645 New York seniors. Preventative care includes wellness visits and cancer screening.
Individual Market
The rules of the ACA prohibit medical underwriting. This aspect of insurance coverage has now gone. This helps many with pre-existing conditions qualify for insurance. An estimated 8,616,234 New Yorkers have pre-existing conditions.
Funding is available to help people in their search for the best insurance premiums. Now, people can compare insurances plans before they buy. This helps them choose the best coverage for the price they can afford. It takes the guesswork out of choosing insurance.
Tax Credits
Tax credits are now available to individuals on private insurance programs. 123,830 New Yorkers receive tax credits. This averages $178 per month that can help offset the cost of insurance premiums.
Conclusion
All this data indicates that more people are able to use their insurance than in the past. Benefits in each bracket make healthcare more accessible to everyone. As more people continue to use health care services, more providers are needed. This is why there is currently a huge demand for online doctoral nursing programs and many nurse practitioners have decided to earn their MSN to DNP online through institutions such as Bradley University.
New Yorkers and the rest of the nation are waiting to see how the new administration will affect their benefits. However, they can expect more of the same for at least the next few years.