The Passage of Health Reform

President Obama signed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law on March 23, 2010. Referred to as health care reform or health reform, this law makes a number of changes to health insurance and health care in the United States. An estimated 32 million people who are currently uninsured will have access to health insurance by 2019. In New York State, an estimated 1 million people will become newly insured, around 90,000 people will be newly eligible for Medicaid, and nearly 700,000 people will have access to purchase coverage and receive subsidies through the Exchange, a new marketplace for health insurance.

Health Reform Toolkit

This toolkit was designed for community-based workers in New York State. While all of the information provided here applies to New York residents, some of the information applies to other states as well. This toolkit is intended to give a comprehensive overview of several important changes under health reform, focusing on how children and families will benefit from these changes.

The one-pagers in this toolkit can be used as reference guides or distributed as handouts. Each one-pager covers a different topic with one side providing basic information about the topic and the other side listing Questions and Answers.

The PowerPoint may be used for a live presentation or may be printed out to distribute as handouts. The presentation may be shortened, but no additions may be made to the PowerPoint without the approval of CDF-NY.

Questions or comments?

Contact Lorraine Gonzalez: lgonzalez@cdfny.org or 212-697-2323

Table of Contents

How to use the toolkit and Summary and Overview

The Exchange - In 2014, every state will have a health insurance exchange, a marketplace for individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance.

Public insurance - There will be several changes to public health insurance programs including the expansion of Medicaid, maintenance of Child Health Plus, and the possibility of a Basic Health Plan.

Private insurance - Private health plans will have to maintain a number of standards, such as providing preventive care at no extra cost to patients. The government will offer tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies for those purchasing health insurance on the private market.

Coverage for young adults - As of September 23, 2010, young adults up to age 26 may stay on or join their parents’ health insurance plan.

New York Bridge Plan- The NY Bridge Plan is currently available in New York State for individuals with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months.

Medically fragile children - Health reform will impact medically fragile children’s access to insurance and care.

Immigrants - Information about access to heatlh insurance and health care for immigrants.

Chart of eligibility- Breakdown of insurance availability and subsidies available to people of different incomes.

PowerPoint - Health Reform: What it Means for NY’s Children and Families

Glossary - A list of health reform and other health-related terms you will find throughout the toolkit.

Resources - A list of websites with more information on a variety of health care reform topics.