Several key provisions of the federal health reform law take effect on Thursday, marking the overhaul's six-month anniversary, the New York Times reports.
Beginning Thursday, insurers are no longer permitted to rescind coverage for technical mistakes made on patient applications (Sack, New York Times, 9/22). Insurers also are prohibited from denying coverage to children ages 18 and younger based on pre-existing conditions.
Other provisions taking effect on Sept. 23 will:
- End lifetime monetary limits on insurance coverage;
- Allow adult children to remain on their parents' plan until age 26 (Ethridge, CQ Today, 9/22);
- Require insurers to provide certain no-cost preventive services, such as colonoscopies, immunizations and mammograms (New York Times, 9/22); and
- Allow consumers to appeal claims decisions through an external review process.
A full list of provisions and when they will take effect can be found at HealthCare.gov (Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 9/22).