How Health Reform Seeks to Improve Ohio Health Insurance

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Once healthcare reform is fully implemented, it is expected to close the existing loopholes in Ohio individual health insurance, secure your family’s coverage, and make shopping for insurance easier and fairer. Here are the main ways in which Ohio residents will benefit:

• Closes insurance loopholes
- The caps on the annual dollar limits on health benefits are being phased out. Insurance companies can no longer impose limits on the benefits they will pay in a year. This will be a great help for patients with serious and financially crippling illnesses like cancer. By 2014, no limits on benefits will be allowed.
- New regulations are in place to see that health insurers cannot place a lifetime limit on ‘essential benefits’ like hospitalization, emergency services, prescription drugs, ambulatory patient services and much more.
- Ohio residents will also get protection from insurance cancellations. Insurers can no longer drop your coverage if you fall sick or make an unintentional mistake in your application.
- Members who think that their health plan is failing to pay a claim or is not providing coverage for a service or treatment, they can appeal to an outside, independent panel. 

It’s important to note that these new rules may not apply to all plans. A reliable health insurance broker can provide guidance on this. 

• Provides for secure Ohio health insurance coverage
Health reform offers more security as it prohibits insurance companies from denying people coverage based on their health history or pre-existing conditions.

- Children under 19 cannot be denied coverage due to their health status, though until 2014, they may charge higher premiums or limit the time of open enrollment
- In Ohio, children can stay on their parent’s plan till age 28
- Starting January 1, 2014, insurers will not be able to deny coverage or charge a higher premium because of a pre-existing health condition
- Until 2014, those with pre-existing who have had no insurance for at least six months, can get coverage with a Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)
- Premiums will vary by age and not by health condition
- In 2014, lower- and middle income families will get tax concessions to help them buy health insurance and pay for out-of-pocket costs

•  Makes health insurance more fair
- Health reform will make health insurance more fair and also help people shop for Ohio individual health insurance more easily. All Americans now have access to a uniform, easy-to-read summary of their policy benefits.
- People can compare plans side-by-side and choose the best one
- Health plans will be classified on the basis of costs, doctor networks, and some benefits so that people can choose the one that best suits their needs
- Starting January 1, 2014, insurers can no longer charge more for policy buyers who are women
- Age penalties will be reduced. As of January 1, 2014, an insurer cannot charge an older person more than three times the premium paid by a younger person

For a better understanding of all these points and to purchase an affordable Ohio health insurance policy, the best option is to contact an established, licensed and experienced Ohio-based health insurance brokerage.