WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–April 23, 2010. In the wake of President Obama signing health care reform into law, AARP Bulletin today released a new user’s guide to help consumers navigate the details of the new law and how it will impact them both now and further down the road when it is fully implemented. This special section features must-know details, including changes to Medicare, employer insurance, taxes, and small businesses—all boiled down to the basics of what YOU need to know. Available exclusively online today at http://bulletin.aarp.org, this eight-page insert will also be delivered to over 24 million homes in the May issue of AARP Bulletin, out May 1st. Specific topics covered include:
For Americans Now in Medicare: Find out how the new law will impact basic benefits, premiums, new Part B and Part D benefits, coverage for people under 65 with disabilities, Medicare solvency and more.
For the 160,600,000 Americans Receiving Employer-Provided Insurance: AARP Bulletin explains new protections, options, incentives and pricing that will impact employer insurance under the new law.
For Uninsured or Self-Insured Americans: Millions of Americans currently pay the highest rates for health coverage because they buy it on their own while others—especially many of those ages 50-to-64—can’t buy it at any price because they have pre-existing medical conditions. Learn how the new law will make private insurance more accessible and fairer for consumers regardless of age or preexisting conditions, increase coverage for adult children, impact enrollment and premium protections, and more.
For Americans Running or Working for a Small Business: Close to 80 percent of American businesses employ fewer than 10 workers and less than half of these companies offer health insurance. AARP Bulletin explains how tax credits and new insurance options help small businesses provide coverage for their employees, as well as the new law’s impact on workers who want to change jobs or start their own businesses.
For Americans with Moderate or Low Income: Getting access to health insurance is important, but so is finding a way to pay for it. AARP Bulletin tackles limits on out-of-pocket spending, exchanges, and subsidies, as well as shares how tax credits and lower group rates will affect families’ wallets.
PLUS:
* Five Things in the Law That May Surprise You: Under the new law, chain restaurants and vending machines must display and disclose calorie counts for all foods. Check the full list for surprising details of how Members of Congress and even tanning parlors will be affected.
* Who Must Have Insurance?: Starting in 2014 almost all U.S. residents must have at least basic health insurance. AARP Bulletin explains what will qualify as insurance in the years to come.
* How Insurance Exchanges Will Work: Beginning in January of 2014, Americans will be able to shop around for the best deal on state-run exchanges, much like they do on travel Web sites. AARP Bulletin shares how insurance plans will vary, what plans must include, and how Americans will be able to compare prices on coverage options.
* Just Where are Those Savings Coming From?: The new law will wring $390 billion in savings from Medicare in the next decade to help pay for Medicare improvements and other health care system changes. AARP Bulletin looks at how the new legislation will reduce costs and still improve drug coverage and preventive care in Medicare.
A Spanish-language version of this guide is also available at www.aarp.org/viva. Additionally, AARP recently launched a new online resource for people with questions about the new law. The new “Health Care Reform Explained” column – available at www.aarp.org/getthefacts – provides practical answers to questions submitted by visitors. Each week, AARP is answering the top questions about the new health care reform law emailed by readers to [email protected].
Source: aarp.org
