Here comes the Healthcare “Nuclear option”. These aspects of the law go into effect this week:
• No out-of-pocket costs for preventive care.
• Sick children can’t be excluded: Insurance companies will not be able to withhold coverage from kids with pre-existing conditions.
• Parents’ coverage extended to young adults
• No dropping sick people
• Restrictions on annual limits
• No lifetime limits
• Easier appeals: Insurers offering new plans will have to develop an easier appeals process for consumers disputing denial of medical coverage.
• Patients are free to choose doctors: Members of new plans can pick any participating primary care provider and don’t need authorization before a woman visits an obstetrician-gynecologist, for instance.