Health Care Reform

The health care reform legislation, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, passed in March 2010, provides many benefits for older Americans, including a gradual elimination of the Medicare prescription drug benefit donut hole and common preventative care provided free of charge to Medicare beneficiaries.

How Health Care Reform Affects Older Americans

• For Consumers
• For Professionals

Scams and Fraud Alerts

Unfortunately, some scam artists have attempted to capitalize on the new law by setting up 1-800 numbers or going door-to-door selling fraudulent insurance policies. They falsely claim there's a limited open-enrollment period to obtain new Medicare services that in fact will be automatically available to beneficiaries.

• Tips
• Links
• Report Fraud
  If you suspect you or someone you know is a victim of errors, fraud or abuse, click here.

Medicare, Medicaid

• Click here for the Medicare and Medicaid health care reform page.

Timelines

• Click here for timelines on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Anti-Fraud Provisions Strengthened by Health Care Reform

• Click here for a summary of ways health care reform strengthened the government’s ability to combat fraud.

Home Health Care Changes

• MLN Matters: Home Health Face-to-Face Encounter - A New Home Health Certification Requirement, MLN #SE1038

Resources

• Kaiser Health News: Health Reform. Comprehensive coverage.
• Insurance Division on Health Care Reform (Texas): Resources, timeline, impact on Medicare beneficiaries.
• Medicare: A Primer. From the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, this primer explains key elements of the Medicare program, which now provides health coverage to 47 million people -- including 39 million people age 65 and older and another 8 million younger adults with permanent disabilities. It looks at the characteristics of the Medicare population, what benefits are covered, how much people with Medicare pay for their benefits and the program’s overall costs and future financing challenges.
• New Medicare Benefits for 2011
• Sebelius: How the New Law Will Increase Your Health Security  
• State Attorney General: Contact your state attorney general’s office to report scams. The attorneys general serve as counselors to state government agencies and legislatures and as representatives of the public interest. When you click the link, scroll to the bottom of the page to find the map and click on your state.
• State Insurance Department: Contact your state insurance department for insurance company or insurance agent licensing information or to file a complaint against a company or agent.
• Stop Medicare Fraud. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and U.S. Department of Justice offer information and resources on a new initiative, HEAT, that is designed to stop Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
• The Price of Repealing the Affordable Care Act. Has links to impacts in each state
• White House: The Affordable Care Act Gives America’s Seniors Greater Control Over Their Own Health Care.