The Utah legislature had begun its health reforms long begun the President had thought about it. A number of health reforms were legislated in 2008 and 2009. Thus the Affordability Act and its provisions come as no surprise to Utah and its residents.
Parents in Utah will now be able to include children,
up to the age of 26, in their own coverage. Now 11, 600 individuals will have access to affordable health care through their parents’ coverage. This and a host of other changes await the families in Utah.
Here is a look at some of health reforms in Utah.
• Families will now be provided with tax credits to ensure that they have affordable coverage. Tax credits will also benefit 40,500 small business firms who provide insurance to employees and their families.
• A $5 billion temporary early retiree reinsurance program will help 38, 500 people and their families. This program will be effective from June 1, 2010.
• Since more Utahns will be covered, cost-shifting will be eliminated. Families earlier had to pay $1000 more due to cost-shifting.
• The Utah health insurance Exchange will provide families with insurance choices to increase competition and enable more consumer choice. Families can compare the cost and benefits to choose a coverage that is affordable.
• Families in Utah will also have guaranteed choices of insurances irrespective of whether the members lose or change jobs or move or get sick.
• New plans will cover prevention and wellness benefits at no charge to families in Utah.
• More than a million Utah families will not have to worry about their coverage running out as insurance companies would not be able to place lifetime limits.
• Children with pre-existing conditions would not be denied insurance coverage anymore. This comes as a big relief to parents in Utah. This provision will be extended to all residents of Utah from the year 2014.
• The family’s choice of doctors will be maintained. The same goes for the choice of plans. If a family is happy with the coverage they have at the moment, they do not need to change it.
• $40.1 million dollars from the Centre are available for Utah to provide coverage for uninsured residents with pre-existing conditions. The Federal government will administer the program if the Utah government chooses not to run it.
About 1.6 million residents in Utah and their families will no longer have to worry about the whopping out of pocket expenses when their cover runs out. This is because insurance companies will no longer be able to place lifetime limits on the plans that they offer.
The Act also protects 186,000 residents and families of Utah who had purchased covers from fraudulent insurance practices.
Utah, for the first time, will have the option of Federal Medicaid that will provide funding to all low-income populations, irrespective of their age, family status or disability.
The residents of Utah have always been game for insurance reforms. And the Affordability Act will give the families in Utah to look forward to a healthy future.
