Affordable Care Act still provides relief

March 27 marks the second year anniversary of the signing of the national Affordable Care Act into law. The implication of this act has had an astronomical effect on young adults nationwide. 2.5 million additional young adults now have coverage as a result of the law.

The Affordable Care Act, “ensures young adults always have quality, affordable health insurance choices, regardless of how their lives change,” according to the Government Health Reform.

Financially, young adults have enough constraints dealing with finding jobs, pursuing secondary education; this act provides not only relief to young adults nationwide but also a sense of hope. Individuals with preexisting conditions can now live their lives healthy, and stress free without the hassle of financial burdens of a hospital bill. No more do young adults have to avoid check-up or emergency room visits at two in the morning.

There are various perks to this act such as young adults being covered under parental healthcare up until the age of 26 and funding for state pre-existing conditions insurance plan. The limitations seem to have been uplifted; no longer can insurance companies drop you for having a pre-existing condition or a mistake was found on your application.

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the United States Department of Health Services participated in a conference call discussing the significance of the Affordable Care Act with college media reps around the country recently.  In this conference she brought up the reality that many young adults, before the act was passed, would choose to go without health care – including her own two sons. Some young graduates even choose specific jobs that ensured them insurance benefits, even thought they were unhappy.

Under the new law, insurance companies are prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits like hospital stays. Insurance companies’ use of annual dollar limits on the amount of insurance coverage a patient may receive is restricted for new plans in the individual market and all group plans.

The reform also bans “gender rating,” that allows women to be charged more for the same coverage. Insurance companies also have to submit justified means for requested premium increases.

“For young mothers like myself who pay their way through college, the Affordable Care Act provides freedom and security knowing that we have access to reachable health insurance plans for myself and my daughter,” stated Nisha Ramirez.

There have been many incentives put into play with this new act in the hopes that minorities including elderly individuals have the same health care opportunity as everyone else.  With the help of the Affordable Care Act individuals can prevent minor problems from becoming life-threatening illnesses. Not only are their more cost effective plans but also increased locations that house doctors with increased accessibility to contact with those such as elderly patients.

This year not only marks a significant change for young adults all over the United States but, it signifies hope for many individuals who can now better take care of themselves as they begin their new journey into adulthood. Many of my peers had no knowledge of how they were going to afford health insurance; the Affordable Care Act gave them a sense of hope. For those who still do not have insurance fret not, there are plenty of outlets at your fingertips that can enable you to a healthier future.